Electronic device for holding time information and processing a job and control method thereof, device and control method thereof, information processing apparatus and display control method thereof, image forming apparatus and operation method thereof, and program and storage medium

ABSTRACT

In a device having a capability of using time data acquired from an external time information generator, a notification unit notifies a user of time information. The notification unit also notifies the user whether the notified time information is based on time data acquired from the external time information generator. Processing performed by the device is restricted depending on a status associated with time information. Although some types of processing are allowed when the device is in a status in which the time information is based on the time data acquired from the external time information generator, the same type of processing are disabled when the device is in any other status associated with time information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/742,205 filed Dec. 18, 2003, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2002-370427 filed Dec. 20, 2002, Japanese PatentApplication No. 2003-042883, filed Feb. 20, 2003, and Japanese PatentApplication No. 2003-370586, filed Oct. 30, 2003, the entire contents ofeach of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device having acapability of communicating with a server that provides time informationservice via a communication medium such as a network. The presentinvention also relates to a device, information processing apparatus,and an image forming apparatus, having a capability of using time datasupplied from an external time information generator. Furthermore, thepresent invention relates to a method of controlling such a device orapparatus, method of controlling displaying information, a method ofoperating such a device or apparatus, a storage medium, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known in the art to calibrate an internal clock disposed in anapparatus by using time information supplied from an external device,such as time information provided via the Internet, time informationprovided using a radio wave, or time information provided bybroadcasting (further detailed information may be found, for example, inJapanese Patents Laid-Open Nos. 8-16528 and 2000-131471).

A large number of apparatuses are known which use such time informationservice. However, most of those apparatuses use time information servicesimply for the purpose of calibration of their internal clock and do notuse time information service in further useful manners.

Nowadays, we have to deal with a great number of pieces of digitalinformation. In dealing with such a large number of pieces of digitalinformation, it is needed to manage the date/time at which each piece ofdigital information has been produced or changed. When there is aplurality of versions for certain digital data, date/time information isuseful to retrieve latest data.

In many apparatuses, the capability of automatically calibrating theinternal clock using time information provision service allows areduction in burdon on users to adjust time. However, there are someproblems to be solved in order to achieve higher reliability ofdate/time information.

Some apparatuses using time information provision service have acapability of allowing users to manually set date/time information usedby apparatuses, but some apparatuses do not have such a capability. Evenif an apparatus has a capability of allowing a user to manually setdate/time, the date/time manually set by the user is not necessarilyaccurate, because there is a possibility that the date/time isincorrectly set either by mistake or intentionally. Thus, the apparatusoperates in a status in which the date/time information cannot beguaranteed, until the date/time is set using time information provisionservice.

If the time information provision service becomes unavailable for a longperiod for some reason, there is a possibility that the error of theinternal clock of the apparatus becomes too large during that period.

In the conventional techniques, devices are designed simply to achievehigh accuracy in controlling the operation of devices. However, in orderto properly use such a device designed to operate on the basis ofaccurate time information using the time information provision service,a user has to have sufficient knowledge of how to use it. Even in suchan apparatus, problems can occur if the time information provisionservice becomes unavailable for some reason (or if the time informationprovision service is not used although the service is available). Insuch a situation, a user will be confused about what to do. Devices arenot designed taking into account the possibility that such a problem canoccur, and devices do not have capability of dealing with such possibleproblems, which may be solved by disabling some or all of functions ofdevices during the period in which the time information provisionservice is unavailable.

The capabilities or functions of devices using time informationprovision service vary from one device to another. For example, in acase of an image forming apparatus using time information provisionservice, the design thereof can be made in many ways. For example, indesign of an image forming apparatus, a capability of using timeinformation provision service may be simply added to image formingapparatus, or various capabilities of the image forming apparatus may beoptimized so that users can user the image forming apparatus in a moreconvenient manner and so that the image forming apparatus can operate ina more reliable manner. That is it is needed to design devices from theabove point of view, to provide devices that can be used by users inmore convenient and reliable manners in various environmentalconditions.

That is, when a device or a system using time information service isdesigned, it is needed to more closely analyze the above-describedproblems that can occur in actual usage of the device, and it is neededto design the device such the above-described requirements are met.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an electronic device and a control method thereof, a device anda control method thereof, an information processing apparatus and acontrol method thereof, an image forming apparatus and an operationmethod thereof, and a program and a storage medium, which do not haveproblems similar to those the conventional techniques have.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to solve theproblems in the conventional techniques and to provide an electronicdevice and a control method thereof, a device and a control methodthereof, an information processing apparatus and a control methodthereof, an image forming apparatus and an operation method thereof, anda program and a storage medium, which can be easily used by a user in aconvenient manner on the basis of time information acquired via timeinformation provision service, and which have a capability of dealingwith problems that may occur during actual operations.

Another object of the present invention is to solve the problems in theconventional techniques and to provide an electronic device and acontrol method thereof, a device and a control method thereof, aninformation processing apparatus and a control method thereof, an imageforming apparatus and an operation method thereof, and a program and astorage medium, which use time information provision service and whichhave a capability of informing a user of a status associated withsetting of time and accuracy of time information, whereby processing ofjob data specified by the user is enabled or disabled depending on thestatus associated with time information, and thus highly convenient dataprocessing environment is provided to the user.

In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide atechnique of informing a user whether time information provision serviceis properly used, and restricting the operation when the timeinformation provision service is not properly used.

In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide atechnique of, without restricting operations, storing log dataindicating operation history together with history of status associatedwith date/time information, thereby making it possible to make judgment,later, as to the reliability of date/time.

In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide atechnique of, when communication is performed between two devices havinga capability of setting time using time information provision service,comparing time information used by a first device with time informationused by a second device, and employing time information that is morereliable thereby making it possible to perform data processing on thebasis of accurate time information by evaluating whether timeinformation is reliable enough each time communication with anotherdevice is performed.

In an aspect, the present invention provides an electronic device havinga capability of performing data communication with a server thatprovides date/time information provision service, comprising displaymeans for displaying time information, time measurement means formeasuring time on the basis of first time information acquired via thedate/time information provision service or on the basis of second timeinformation set by a user, storage means for storing data indicating atime-setting status of the time measurement means, display control meansfor displaying, on a display, the time-setting status according to thedata stored in the storage means, and process control means forcontrolling execution of particular data processing, in accordance withthe time-setting status displayed by the display control means.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofcontrolling an electronic device having a capability of performing datacommunication with a server that provides date/time informationprovision service, comprising the step of displaying time information ondisplay means, measuring time using time measurement means on the basisof first time information acquired via the date/time informationprovision service or on the basis of second time information set by auser, storing, by using storage means, data indicating a time-settingstatus of the time measurement means, displaying the time-setting statusby using display control means, according to the data stored in thestorage means, and controlling execution of particular data processing,in accordance with the time-setting status displayed by the displaycontrol means.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an electronic devicehaving a capability of performing data communication with a server thatprovides date/time information provision service or with a secondelectronic device that performs particular processing, comprisingdisplay means for displaying time information, time measurement meansfor measuring time on the basis of first time information acquired viathe date/time information provision service or on the basis of secondtime information set by a user, storage means for storing dataindicating a time-setting status of the time measurement means,acquisition means for acquiring a reference time setting status storedin the second electronic device, and control means for comparing thetime-setting status with the reference time setting status acquired bythe acquisition means and resetting the time-setting status to be storedin the storage means, in accordance with the result of the comparison.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofcontrolling an electronic device including display means for displayingtime information and having a capability of performing datacommunication with a server that provides date/time informationprovision service or with a second electronic device that performsparticular processing, comprising the steps of measuring time on thebasis of first time information acquired via the date/time informationprovision service or on the basis of second time information set by auser, storing, in storage means, data indicating a time-setting statusin the time measurement step, acquiring a reference time setting statusstored in the second electronic device, and performing controlprocessing including the steps of comparing the time-setting status withthe reference time setting status acquired by the acquisition means andresetting the time-setting status to be stored in the storage means, inaccordance with the result of the comparison.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofcontrolling a device including a notification unit for notifying a userof time information, suitable for performing processing at least in oneof a plurality of operation modes, comprising a time information controlstep in which the notification unit notifies the user of timeinformation, and a notification information control step in which thenotification unit provides notification information to the user tonotify whether the time information supplied to the user by thenotification unit is based on time data generated by an external timeinformation generator.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofcontrolling a device including an acquisition unit for acquiring timedata from an external time information generator, suitable forperforming processing at least in one of a plurality of operation modes,comprising a processing step in which specified job data is processedusing a processing unit, and a process restriction control step in whichthe processing unit is controlled such that the processing unit isenabled to execute processing of job data when the device is currentlyin a status in which the time information used by the device is based ontime data acquired from the external time information generator, but theprocessing unit is disabled to execute the same processing of job datawhen the device is currently in any status different from the formerstatus.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a device including anotification unit for notifying a user of time information, suitable forperforming processing at least in one of a plurality of operation modes,comprising an acquisition unit adapted to acquire time data from anexternal time information generator, and a notification control unit forcontrolling the notification unit so as to notify the user whether thetime information supplied to the user by the notification unit is basedon time data generated by an external time information generator.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a device capable ofprocessing specified job data using a processing unit and suitable forperforming processing at least in one of a plurality of operation modes,comprising an acquisition unit for acquiring time data from an externaltime information generator, and a process restriction control unit forcontrolling the processing unit such that the processing unit is enabledto execute processing of job data when the device is currently in astatus in which the time information used by the device is based on timedata acquired from the external time information generator, but theprocessing unit is disabled to execute the same processing of job datawhen the device is currently in any status different from the formerstatus.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a program forimplementing a method of controlling a device.

In an aspect, the present invention provides a display control methodfor an information processing apparatus having a plurality of operationmodes and capable of using time information, the method comprising adisplay control step in which status information indicating the statusof the information processing apparatus is displayed on a display, and anotification information control step in which notification informationis displayed on the display to notify a user whether time informationused by the information processing apparatus is based on time dataacquired from an external time information generator at a locationremote from the information processing apparatus.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operatingan image forming apparatus having at least one of a copy mode in whichjob data supplied from a scanner unit is printed by a printer unit, aprint mode in which job data supplied from an external device is printedby the printer unit, a box mode in which job data supplied from thescanner unit or job data supplied from an external device is stored in astorage unit, and the stored job data is output to the printer unit oran external device in response to a command issued by a user, and atransmission mode in which job data supplied from the scanner unit istransmitted to an external device, the image forming apparatus beingcapable of using time data generated by an external time informationgenerator, the method comprising a setting step in which a processingcondition associated with job data to be processed by the image formingapparatus is set, and a process restriction control step in which theprocessing is controlled such that execution of processing is enabledwhen the image forming apparatus is currently in a status in which thetime information used by the image forming apparatus is based on timedata acquired from the external time information generator, butexecution of the same processing is disabled when the image formingapparatus is currently in any status different from the former status.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an informationprocessing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes and capableof using time information, comprising a display control unit adapted todisplay, on a display, status information indicating the status of theinformation processing apparatus, and a notification unit for displayingnotification information on the display to notify a user whether timeinformation used by the information processing apparatus is based ontime data acquired from an external time information generator at alocation remote from the information processing apparatus.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an image formingapparatus having at least one of a copy mode in which job data suppliedfrom a scanner unit is printed by a printer unit, a print mode in whichjob data supplied from an external device is printed by the printerunit, a box mode in which job data supplied from the scanner unit or jobdata supplied from an external device is stored in a storage unit, andthe stored job data is output to the printer unit or an external devicein response to a command issued by a user, a transmission mode in whichjob data supplied from the scanner unit is transmitted to an externaldevice, the image forming apparatus being capable of using time datagenerated by an external time information generator, the image formingapparatus comprising a setting unit adapted to set a processingcondition associated with job data to be processed by the image formingapparatus, and a process restriction control unit adapted to control theprocessing such that execution of processing is enabled when the imageforming apparatus is currently in a status in which the time informationused by the image forming apparatus is based on time data acquired fromthe external time information generator, but execution of the sameprocessing is disabled when the image forming apparatus is currently inany status different from the former status.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a program forimplementing a display control method.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a program forimplementing a method of operating a device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of an Internetfacsimile machine that is an example of an electronic device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a first data processing procedureaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an operation control panelincluding a display shown in FIG. 1 and an operation key unit.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the operation control panel in anotherstatus.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the operation control panel in stillanother status.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the operation control panel in stillanother status.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a second data processing procedureaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a third data processing procedureaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of displayed log informationassociated with transmission/reception performed by the electronicdevice shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a communication cession (communicationprocedure) between Internet facsimile machines shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a fourth data processing procedureaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a fifth data processing procedureaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing table data according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an operation control unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an operation control screen according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an operation control screen according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows an enabled/disabled operation table according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an operation control screen according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a memory map of a storage medium in whichvarious data processing programs are stored, according to the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is described in further detail below withreference to preferred embodiments of electronic devices (also referredto as information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, andsimply as a device) having a capability of setting time using timeinformation provision service. In the embodiments described below, byway of example, the invention is applied to a device for performingInternet facsimile communication.

In the present embodiment, it is presumed that the time informationprovision service is provided via the Internet. In the time informationprovision service via the Internet, it is possible to make adjustment interms of all parameters associated with year, month, date, and time.Thus, the time information provision service provided via the Internetis suitable for use in embodiments according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of an Internetfacsimile machine that is an example of an electronic device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the Internet facsimile 11 according to the presentembodiment includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a hard disk drive (HDD) 23, anetwork card 24, a display 25, a keyboard 26, a scanner 27 for scanninga document, and a printer unit 28 for performing printing, wherein thoseparts are connected with each other via a CPU bus 12.

The CPU 21 measures time by counting a clock generated by an internaloscillator. Time information is stored in the RAM 22 and displayed onthe display 25 as required.

In the present embodiment, the Internet facsimile 11 is connected to theInternet 13 via the network card 24. Another Internet facsimile 310,configured in a similar manner to the Internet facsimile 11 and havingsimilar capabilities to those of the Internet facsimile 11, is alsoconnected to the Internet 13. In the present embodiment, by way ofexample, the Internet facsimile 11 communicates with the Internetfacsimile 310. The details of communication operation between those twoInternet facsimiles will be described later.

The Internet facsimile 11 has a capability of accessing the timeinformation service server 14 such as “time.nist.gov” or“time.windows.com”® for achieving time synchronization.

The time information service server 14 has an accurate internal clockand provides date/time information to the Internet facsimile 11 via theInternet. Each time the Internet facsimile 11 receives data/timeinformation, the Internet facsimile 11 makes a correction in terms of adelay that occurs in communication via the Internet thereby acquiringcorrected data/time information with a small residual error that is lessthan one second. The principles of such a time information serviceserver are well known, and thus a further detailed description thereofis not given herein.

The present invention may also be applied to time setting service usinga radio wave or a telephone line. However, in the case in which only thetime information is adjusted using time information provision service,the date (year, month and day) cannot be corrected when the date isincorrectly set. The device can be used even in such a situation, if asetting that cannot be guaranteed as being correct, such as the date(year, month and day), is regarded as being correct. In the presentembodiment, there is no specific restriction on the details of the timeinformation provision service.

As described above, the present embodiment of the invention can beapplied to a device or a system that has the capability of allowing thedate/time information to be manually set by a user via the operationcontrol unit and that has the capability of performing datacommunication with an external device that generates time informationand automatically or manually setting the date/time information used bythe device on the basis of the information supplied by the externaldevice serving as the time information generator.

In the present description, when time information manually set by a userof the device via an operation control unit or the like is used asfirst-type time data, time information acquired from an external timeinformation generator is used as second-type time information.Conversely, when time information acquired from the external timeinformation generator is used as first-type time information, timeinformation manually set by a user of the device via the operationcontrol unit or the like is used as second-type time data. In any eithercase, the present embodiment of the invention is applicable.

In the present embodiment, time information includes a plurality of timeinformation elements such as year data indicating a year in AD, datedata indicating a month and a day, and time data in units of hours,minutes, and seconds. However, in the present embodiment, the timeinformation is not limited to the above form, but may include anotherelement (e.g., an element indicating what day of the week), or the timeinformation may include only some of the above described elements (e.g.,the time information may include only year data, date data, and hourdata).

Some of the above described elements, such as year and date data, may bebased on time information managed by the device. Other elements, such ashour data, may be based on information acquired from the external timeinformation generator.

In the present embodiment, the device is configured in theabove-described manner, and the device is capable of performingprocessing on the basis of time information (first-type time data) setvia the operation control unit of the device, and also capable ofperforming processing on the basis of time information (second-type timedata) acquired from the external time information generator. Even whenthe time information is not set either on the first-type time data orthe second-type time data, that is, in a state in which the time data isunset, some capabilities or functions of the device can still be used.

In the present embodiment, the device or system can operate inaccordance with time data manually set and can also operate inaccordance with time data automatically set. Furthermore, the device canoperate even in a status in which time information is not set eithermanually or automatically. In the device, status information indicatingwhether the time information has been set on the basis of the first-typetime data or on the basis of the second-type time data, or whether thetime information has not been set by either is stored in memory. Inaccordance with the status information stored in the memory, thecontents of the operation control screen of the operation control unitserving as the user interface are dynamically switched, and thecapabilities or processes associated with a particular status areenabled or disabled.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a first data processing procedureperformed by the electronic device according to the present invention,wherein the first data processing procedure corresponds to the operationperformed by the Internet facsimile machine 11 to set the date/timeinformation. In FIG. 2, SP1 to SP14 denote step numbers.

The processes shown in flow charts in the present embodiment, such asthe process shown in the flow chart in FIG. 2, are performed by the CPU12 of the electronic device by executing programs read from a memory.Note that the present embodiment of the invention is applicableregardless of which unit of which device operates as the controller thatexecutes the programs to perform the processes.

In step SP1, after the power of the Internet facsimile 11 is turned on,the CPU 21 initializes internal parameters STS and MD stored in the RAM22 to 0.

The parameter STS indicates the status of setting the date/time. WhenSTS=0, the date and the time are not set at all, such as in a situationwhere the power of the Internet facsimile 11 is turned on for the firsttime. STS=1 indicates that the date/time information has been setmanually. STS=2 indicates that the date/time has been successfully setby accessing the time information service server 14.

STS=3 indicates that calibration of the date/time information, which isexpected to have been performed on the basis of information acquiredfrom the time information service server 14, has not been performed fora period longer than a predetermined length of period.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the status of the presentelectronic device in terms of the date/time information is indicated bythe value of the parameter STS, and the CPU 21 performs managementassociated with the date/time information on the basis of the value ofthe parameter STS, as described below.

In a case where a detection signal from an operation control unit of thepresent electronic device indicates that time information (thefirst-type time information) is not set by a user via the operationcontrol unit, or a detection signal from a particular unit such as thenetwork card 24 indicates that the time information (the second-typetime information) has not been acquired from an external timeinformation generator, the CPU 21 determines that the date/timeinformation has been not been manually or automatically set orcalibrated. Upon this determination, the CPU 21 sets the parameter STSstored in the memory to zero.

In a case in which the detection signal from the operation control unitof the electronic device indicates that the time data (the first-typetime data) has been set by a user using the operation control unit, theCPU 21 determines that the date/time information of the electronicdevice has been manually set (that is, the date/time information is in amanually set state), and the CPU 21 rewrites data stored in the memorysuch that STS=1.

In a case in which the detection signal from the particular unit such asthe network card 24 indicates that the time data (the second-type timedata) has been automatically acquired from the external time informationgenerator, with which the electronic device is capable of communicating,and that the time information of the electronic device has beenautomatically calibrated on the basis of the acquired time information,the CPU 21 determines that the date/time information has beenautomatically set (that is, the date/time information is in a calibratedstate), and the CPU 21 rewrites data in the memory such that STS=2.

In a case in which, from a network communication error signal suppliedfrom the particular unit such as the network card 24, the CPU 21determines that the time data (the second-type time data) cannot besuccessfully acquired from the external time information generator, withwhich the present electronic device is capable of communicating, andthus calibration is not possible, the CPU 21 determines that acalibration error of the date/time information has occurred (that is,the date/time information is in a state in which calibration is needed),and the CPU 21 rewrites the data in the memory such that STS=3.

Depending on the status information (i.e., the value of the parameterSTS) associated with the date/time used by the electronic device, theCPU 21 determines the contents displayed on an operation control screenas described below, determines whether to restrict the capabilities, anddetermines what capabilities should be restricted if restriction shouldbe imposed.

The parameter MD indicates a restriction imposed on the operation of theInternet facsimile machine depending on the value of the parameter STS.

The device according to the present embodiment has a plurality ofcapabilities and operation modes, such as a mode in which job data inputvia a scanner unit is transferred to another apparatus, and a mode inwhich job data received from another apparatus is printed using aprinter unit. In the device having such capabilities and operation modesaccording to the present embodiment, some modes need highly accuratetime information, some modes do not need very highly accurate timeinformation, although they need a certain degree of accuracy, and somemodes can work without requiring any time information at all.

In the present embodiment, in view of the above, depending on the valueof the parameter STS, the parameter MD is set to a particular value torestrict the capabilities or operation(s) of the device.

When MD=0, the plurality of operation modes, also referred to ascapabilities, of the present apparatus are all enabled regardless of thevalue of the parameter STS (that is, regardless of the status of theapparatus in terms of time data).

In this restriction state, (that is when MD=0, regardless of the valueof STS, the CPU 21 permits a user to select any one of the plurality ofoperation modes and permits operation in the selected operation mode tobe performed. This includes a received data print mode in which receivedjob data is printed and a data transmission mode in which input job datais transmitted to the outside.

When MD=1, reception of data is enabled even if STS≠2 (that is, ifSTS=0, 1, or 3), although the other operation modes are disabled. Inother words, regardless of whether the parameter STS has any one ofvalues 0, 1, 2, or 3, reception of data is enabled (the other operationmodes are disabled) However, only when STS=2, is there another enabledoperation mode. For example, transmission of data to another apparatusis enabled in addition to reception of data.

In this state in terms of restriction (MD=1), the CPU 21 enablesprinting of job data received from an external device (the received dataprint mode) but disables any operation mode (for example, datatransmission mode) other than the received data print mode, regardlessof which one of the following three statuses in terms of time data thepresent apparatus is in: a status in which an operation on the basis oftime data (first-type time data) manually set using the operationcontrol unit is possible (STS=1); a status in which time data has notbeen set either manually or automatically (STS=0); or a status in whichcalibration on the basis of time data supplied from the outside isimpossible (STS=3). Furthermore, in this state in terms of restriction(MD=1), if the current status of the present apparatus allows anoperation on the basis of time data (second-type time data) suppliedfrom the external device (that is, if STS=2), the CPU 21 enables, inaddition to the received data print mode, other operation modes (forexample, transmission mode) that are disabled in the other statuses interms of time data (STS=0, 1, or 3).

When MD=2, even if STS≠2, transmission of data is permitted, althoughany other operation mode is disabled. In other words, regardless ofwhich one of values 0, 1, 2, or 3 the parameter STS has, the datatransmission mode is enabled and the other operation modes are disabled.However, when STS=2, not only is the data transmission mode enabled, butthe other operation modes such as the received data print mode, are alsoenabled.

In this state in terms of restriction (MD=2), regardless of the statusin terms of time data, that is, regardless of whether operations on thebasis of time data (first-type time data) manually set using theoperation control unit are enabled (STS=1), or time data is not seteither manually or automatically (STS=0), or calibration on the basis oftime data supplied from the external is impossible (STS=3), the CPU 21enables the transmission mode but disables the other operation modes(such as the received data print mode). Furthermore, in this state interms of restriction (MD=2), when the current status of the apparatus interms of time data allows operations on the basis of time data(second-type time data) supplied from the outside (that is, when STS=2),the CPU 21 enables not only the transmission mode but also the otheroperation modes (for example, the received data print mode) that aredisabled in the other statuses in terms of time data (STS=0, 1, or 3).

The decision rule the CPU 21 relies on to determine how to control theoperation or capabilities of the device depending on the status orconditions, may be described in the form of a table such as that shownin FIG. 13. The table may be stored in a memory (not shown) so that theCPU 21 can control the operation or the capabilities of the device inaccordance with the rule described in the table stored in the memory.The value of the parameter MD may be set by a user using the operationcontrol unit of the present apparatus, or may be automatically set bythe CPU 21 depending on the value of the parameter STS managed by theCPU 21. The CPU 21 determines what restriction(s) to impose or whatoperation to enable or disable, in accordance with managementinformation described in the management table 1300 shown in FIG. 13,depending on the value of the parameter MD and the value of theparameter STS stored in the memory. What operation is restricted and inwhat manner may be changed by a user as required. That is, the contentsdescribed in the rightmost column of the table shown in FIG. 13 may bechanged. When a new capability is added to the present apparatus, therule and the condition associated with the new capability may bedetermined and the management data described in the management table1300 may be modified so as to reflect the rule and the conditionassociated with the new capability.

The manner of controlling the operation of the present apparatus is notlimited to that described above. For example, in data transmission, theCPU 21 may enable scanning of a document but enable actual transmissiononly when STS=2. The CPU 21 may control data reception in such a mannerthat the CPU 21 tentatively stores received data together with dataindicating date/time in the HDD 23, and the CPU 21 rewrites thetentative date/time with the correct date/time calculated on the basisof the date/time calibrated when STS=2 thereby making it enabled toprint the received data. That is, details of the manner of controllingthe operation may be modified as required.

The above modification make it possible to use the device when thedate/time is not correctly set, thus improving the availability of thedevice.

FIGS. 3 to 6 show specific examples of the display 25 and the operationkey unit 26, shown in FIG. 1, of the apparatus according to the presentembodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 3 to 6 show, in the form of plan views, an example of theoperation control panel including the display 25 and the operation keyunit 26 shown in FIG. 1, wherein similar parts to those in FIG. 1 aredenoted by similar reference numerals.

In the example shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, some keys are provided in the formof soft keys on the screen of the display 25 of the operation controlpanel, and the other keys are provided in the form of mechanical hardkeys (keys 31 to 38). Note that all keys may be provided in the form ofsoft keys on the operation screen, or some keys (for example, keys 31 to33) of the hard keys shown in FIG. 3 may be provided in the form of softkeys on the display screen. That is, in the present embodiment, there isno particular restriction on the details of the operation control panel.

The operation of the display 25 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 is controlled bythe CPU 21. More specifically, in accordance with the flow shown in FIG.1 and on the basis of the values of STS, MD, and other parameters storedin the memory, the CPU 21 determines what to display on the display 25and controls the display 25 so as to display the operation controlscreen including what has been determined above. The keys describedbelow may be provided in the form of hark keys or soft keys displayed onthe operation control screen.

FIG. 3 shows the display 25 and the operation key unit 26 in a state inwhich the power is just turned on.

In FIGS. 3 to 6, the display 25 is formed of, for example, a liquidcrystal display panel, and the status in terms of setting of date/timeand also date/time information itself are displayed in a bottom area ofthe display 25.

In the state shown in FIG. 3, the present apparatus is in a status inwhich the time information is not set either by a user (that is,first-type time information is not given) or automatically on the basisof time information (second-type time information) supplied from theexternal time information generator (that is, STS=0). In this status,the CPU 21 displays the operation control screen including the contentssuch as those shown in FIG. 3 on the display 25.

In the operation key unit 26, a date/time manual setting key 31 is usedto manually set date/time. If the key 31 is pressed by a user, the CPU21 displays, on the display 25, a screen (not shown) for use by the userin manually setting date/time information (first-type time data). Viathis screen, the user can manually set date/time information (year,month, day, hour, min, and sec) by using numerical keys 38, a clear key36 for clearing input data, and an enter key 37 for finally entering theinput data, although further details of manner of inputting data are notdescribed.

If the date/time information is manually set by the user via the screenfor use in manually setting date/time information (first-type time data)in step SP4 in the flow chart of in FIG. 2, the CPU 21 changes the valueof the parameter STS to 1 in step SP5 of FIG. 2 and stores the manuallyset date/time data in the memory. On the basis of the stored date/timedata, the CPU 21 measures passage of time and displays, on the display25, date/time on the basis of the measurement result as shown in FIG. 4.More specifically, the CPU 21 displays on the display 25 the operationcontrol screen on which a message indicating that the date/timeinformation has been set and the setting of the date/time informationhas been performed manually is displayed along with other data (step SP6of FIG. 2). Thus, the user can recognize via the operation control unitthat the date/time information has been set and the setting of thedate/time information has been performed manually by the user.

A automatic date/time setting key 32 is used to set the date/time eitherby immediately accessing the time information service server 14 or tospecify intervals at which to automatically set the date/time byaccessing the time information service server 14. The setting of theintervals can be performed using the clear key 36, the enter key 37, andthe numeric keys 38.

If a command to automatically set the date/time information is issued bya user by selecting the above-described automatic date/time setting key32, the CPU 21 enters a time information usage mode. While in this mode,the CPU 21 acquires date/time information from the external timeinformation generator, such as the time information service server 14with which the present apparatus is capable of communicating, measurespassage of time with respect to the acquired date/time information(second-type date/time data), and displays date/time information inaccordance with the measurement result on the display 25 as shown inFIG. 5. More specifically, the CPU 21 displays, on the display 25, theoperation control screen on which a message indicating that thedate/time information has been set, the setting of the date/timeinformation has been performed automatically on the basis of date/timeinformation acquired from the external time information generator, andcalibration of the date/time information has been performed is displayedalong with other data. In addition to the process described above, theCPU 21 changes the value of the parameter STS to 2 (steps SP7 to SP10 inFIG. 2). From the contents displayed on the operation control screen,the user can recognize that the date/time information has been set,setting of the date/time information has been performed on the basis ofdate/time information acquired from the external time informationgenerator, and calibration of the date/time information has beenperformed.

As described above, when the key 32 is selected, the CPU 21 performs thefollowing: the operation mode is switched into the automatic settingmode in which date/time information is acquired from the external timeinformation generator, setting of the date/time information acquiredfrom the external time information generator is performed, and thedate/time information of the present apparatus is calibrated on thebasis of the date/time information acquired from the external timeinformation generator. The acquisition, the setting, and the calibrationmay be performed immediately (in real time) after the key 32 is pressedby the user, may be automatically performed when a specified period oftime (for example, one hour) has passed since the pressing of the key 32by the user, or may be automatically performed periodically at specifiedintervals (for example, every 4 hours) after the key 32 is pressed bythe user. As described above, the timing of automatically setting thetime information may be determined depending on the environment in whichthe present apparatus is used. That is, in the present embodiment of theinvention, there is no particular restriction on the details of how toacquire the time information from the external time informationgenerator and how to use, manage, and control the acquired timeinformation.

A key 33 is used to perform various settings of other conditions. Ifthis key 33 is selected, the CPU 21 displays, on the display 25, adetail setting screen (not shown) that includes various setting keyssuch as a MD value setting key for displaying a MD value setting screen(not shown) for use by a user in setting or changing the value of the MDparameter, and an upper limit setting key for displaying an upper limitsetting screen for use by the user in setting the upper limit of theinterval of time within which the time information service server 14 isnot allowed to be used after a previous usage of the time informationservice server 14.

For example, if the user selects the MD value setting key (not shown) inthe detail setting screen (not shown), the CPU 21 switches the screendisplayed on the display 25 to the MD value setting screen (not shown)thereby making it possible for the user to set or change the value ofthe MD parameter. The value of the MD set via this screen is stored asregistration information in the memory for future use in controlling theoperation of the present apparatus (steps SP21 and SP22 in FIG. 7).

In setting of the upper limit, as in setting of other parameters, theclear key 36, the enter key 37, and the numeric keys 38 can be used.Although in the present embodiment, the upper limit is set by a user toan arbitrary value, the upper limit may be set to a predetermined fixedvalue depending on the accuracy of the timer and the allowable error oftime.

On the other hand, if the user presses the upper limit setting key (notshown) in the detail setting screen (not shown), the CPU 21 switches thescreen displayed on the display 25 to the upper limit setting screen(not shown).

Via this upper limit setting screen, the user can set the interval oftime at which, in the automatic setting mode, time information isacquired from the external time information generator such as the server14 and setting and calibration of time information are performed. Forexample, if the user sets the interval of time to 4 hours via thisscreen, data indicating the specified interval is stored as managementinformation, and the CPU 21 automatically accesses the external server14 every 4 hours to perform acquisition, setting, and calibration oftime information.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the CPU 21 measures thenon-response period during which no response is received from theexternal server after transmission of an access request to the externalserver 14. If the CPU 21 detects that the non-response period hasreached a predetermined value, the CPU 21 determines that a calibrationerror has occurred and the CPU 21 changes the value of the parameter STSto 3. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 21displays, on the display 25, an operation control screen including amessage for informing the user of the present apparatus that calibrationof the time information used by the present apparatus. Herein, thecalibration refers to adjustment of the time information currently usedby the present apparatus to correct time information, and is performedwhen the current time information has an error with respect to thecorrect time information (steps SP13 and SP14 in FIG. 2).

The allowable upper limit of the non-response period in which noresponse is obtained can also be set via the upper limit setting screen.

For example, in the case in which the allowable upper limit of thenon-response period is set by the user to 15 minutes, if the CPU 21detects that no response is obtained from the external server 14 within15 minutes after accessing the external server 14, the CPU 21 changesthe value of the status in terms of setting of date/time informationused by the present apparatus such that STS=3, and the CPU 21 informs,via the display 25, the user of that fact as shown in FIG. 6.

From the information displayed on the operation control unit 25, theuser can recognize that although the automatic setting mode isavailable, it is necessary to calibrate the date/time informationdisplayed on the operation control unit 25.

If a start key 34 is selected by the user after completion of varioussettings (for example, specifying of conditions of image processing onthe document, specifying of the destination, etc.) associated with adocument to be transmitted, the CPU 21 performs transmission of job dataof that document. A stop key 35 is used to stop an operation such asdata transmission or data reception.

The apparatus, according to the present embodiment, has a memory such asa hard disk capable of storing a plurality of jobs. It is also possibleto store image data for use in reprinting the image in the memory. Whenreprinting is needed, if the start key 34 is selected after completionof setting the conditions associated with reprinting, reprinting isperformed using the data stored in the memory.

The construction of the apparatus according to the present embodimenthas been described above. Referring back to the flow chart shown in FIG.2, in step SP2, the device is in a situation in which the power of thepresent apparatus is turned on for the first time. Parameter STS=0, andthus the CPU 21 displays, on the display 25, a message indicating thatthe date/time is unset, for example, as shown in FIG. 3. Although in theexample shown in FIG. 3, a text message is displayed to inform the userthat the date/time is unset, another method of informing the user thatthe date/time is unset would be to cause the numerals of the date/timeinformation (numerals are all 0 in this case) to blink on the display25.

Alternatively, if the display 25 has the capability of displayingcolors, the date/time information itself or the field of the date/timeinformation may be displayed in red to alert of the warning.

In the present embodiment, as described above, when the presentapparatus is in a status in which the date/time information has not beenset either manually or automatically, and the apparatus is in operationwith the date/time information unset, the CPU 21 informs the user ofthis fact.

Although in the present embodiment, the display 25 is used as thenotification unit, the notification unit is not limited to the display25. For example, a voice unit that outputs an audible message such asvoice notification, or an alarm lamp may be used to inform the user thatthe date/time information is unset.

In step SP3, it is determined whether the date/time manual setting key31 on the operation key unit 26 is selected, or the date/time automaticsetting key 32 is selected, or performance of an operation, programmedto be performed at scheduled intervals, to set the date/time informationby accessing the time information service server 14 is required to beperformed. If it is determined in step SP3 that any setting operationassociated with time is not necessary, the process proceeds to step SP11.

In the present embodiment, calibration of the date/time informationusing the time information service server 14 (adjustment of thedate/time information to the correct date/time value) is performed byautomatically accessing the date/time information service at scheduledintervals of time (specified by a user via the setting screen displayedon the display 25 in response to selecting the key 33) or by accessingthe date/time information service in response to selecting the specifickey on the operation key unit 26. In the present embodiment, asdescribed above, the operation of acquiring time data from the timeinformation service server and making a time adjustment on the basis ofthe acquired time data may be specified to be performed in real time inresponse to selecting a key on the operation control screen or may bespecified to be performed periodically at predetermined intervals. Inany case, the operation is performed under the control of the CPU 21.

If it is determined in step SP3 that the date/time manual setting key 31on the operation key unit 26 is selected, then in step SP4, a program isexecuted to allow the user to set the date/time information using thenumeric keys 38 in the above-described manner.

After completion of inputting the date/time information, the processproceeds to step SP5. In step SP5, the CPU 21 changes the value of theparameter STS stored in the memory such that STS=1.

Next, in step SP6, a message indicating that the date/time informationhas been manually set is displayed on the display 25, as shown in FIG.4.

Alternatively, if the display 25 has the capability of displayingcolors, the date/time information itself or the field of the date/timeinformation may be displayed using, for example, red color to inform theuser that although the date/time information has been set, the accuracythereof cannot be guaranteed. After completion of step SP6, the processproceeds to step SP11.

In the present embodiment, as described above, when the presentapparatus is in a status in which the date/time information used by theapparatus has been manually set by a user (on the basis of first-typetime data), the CPU 21 displays the operation control screen on thedisplay 25 such that a message indicating that the date/time informationhas been manually set (the date/time information used by the presentapparatus has been set, the setting of that date/time information hasbeen performed manually by the user via the operation control unit, andthe present apparatus is in operation in the status in which thedate/time information has been manually set by the user) is displayed.

If it is determined in step SP3 that the date/time automatic setting key32 is selected, or if it is determined that the date/time has reachedone of scheduled date/time intervals at which to set the date/timeinformation by accessing the time information service server 14, the CPU21 performs the date/time information service process in step SP7.

More specifically, the date/time is set using the time informationservice server 14. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step SP8. In stepSP8, it is determined whether the date/time setting in step SP7 issuccessfully completed. If it is determined that step SP7 issuccessfully completed, the process proceeds to step SP9, but theprocess jumps to step SP11 if an error is detected.

The error detected in step SP8 can occur, for example, when service fromthe time information service server 14 is suspended, when accessing theInternet 13 is impossible for some reason, or when accessing the timeinformation service server 14 is impossible because of a failure of thenetwork card 24.

In the case in which an error is detected, a message is displayed on thedisplay 25 to inform the user that an error has occurred. If a cause forthe error is detected, information indicating the cause may also bedisplayed.

If it is determined in step SP8 that the date/time has been successfullyset using the time information service server 14, then, in step SP9, theparameter STS is set such that STS=2. Next, in step SP10, a messageindicating that the date/time has been calibrated is displayed on thedisplay 25, as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, if the display 25 has thecapability of displaying colors, the date/time information itself or thefield of the date/time information may be displayed using, for example,green color thereby informing the user that the date/time informationhas been set and the accuracy thereof can be guaranteed.

In the present embodiment, as described above, when the presentapparatus is in a status in which the date/time information used by thepresent apparatus is set on the basis of the date/time informationacquired from the external time information generator (on the basis ofsecond-type time data), and the present apparatus is in operation on thebasis of that date/time information, the CPU 21 displays the operationcontrol screen on the display 25 to inform the user of the above fact(to inform that the date/time information used by the present apparatushas been set, the setting has been performed on the basis of thedate/time information acquired from the external time informationgenerator, and the present apparatus is in operation on the basis ofthat date/time information).

In step SP11, the length of an elapsed time from the previous usage ofthe time information service server 14 is compared with thepredetermined period, during which usage of the time information serviceserver 14 is disabled. In step SP12, it is determined whether thecurrent time is within an allowable range. If it is determined that thecurrent time is within the allowable range, the process proceeds to stepSP3, while the process proceeds to step SP13 if it is determined thatthe current time is not within the allowable range.

In step SP13, a message indicating that calibration is necessary isdisplayed on the display 25, as shown in FIG. 6. In the next step(SP14), the parameter STS is set to 3. Thereafter, the process returnsto step SP3.

In step SP13 described above, if the display 25 has the capability ofdisplaying colors, the date/time information itself or the field of thedate/time information may be displayed using, for example, a blue colorthereby informing the user that the accuracy of the date/timeinformation cannot be guaranteed.

In the present embodiment, as described above, when the presentapparatus is in a status in which, although the apparatus is in theoperation mode in which the date/time information used by the apparatusshould be adjusted (calibrated) using the date/time information(second-type time data) acquired from the external time informationgenerator, calibration has not been properly performed, the CPU 21displays the operation control screen on the display 25 to inform theuser of the above fact (that is, to inform that although the apparatusis in the operation mode in which the date/time should be calibratedusing the date/time information acquired from the external timeinformation generator, the calibration is not properly completed).

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a second data processing procedureperformed by the electronic device according to the present invention,wherein this second data processing procedure is performed in responseto selecting the setting key 33 shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 7, SP21 to SP24denote step numbers.

If the setting key 33 shown in FIG. 3 is selected, step SP21 isperformed first. In this step, it is determined whether the operationmode should be switched into a mode in which the value of the parameterMD is set or changed (for example, it is determined whether a user haspressed the MD value setting key (not shown) on the detail settingscreen (not shown) displayed in response to selecting the key 33 on thedisplay 25). If the operation mode should be switched, the processproceeds to step SP22. If the operation mode should not be switch, flowproceeds to step SP23 described below. In step SP22, the MD valuesetting screen (not shown) is displayed on the display 25 to prompt theuser to set or change the value of the parameter MD. In the presentembodiment, the value of the parameter MD is allowed to take an integralnumber within the range of 0 to 2. Thus, in step SP22, the value of theparameter MD is set within the above range. Updating of the value of theparameter MD is performed under the control of the CPU 21. Flow thenproceeds to step SP23.

In step SP23, it is determined whether to change the length of period inwhich the usage of the time information service server 14 is disabled(by judging, for example, whether a user has pressed the upper limitsetting key (not shown) on the detail setting screen (not shown)displayed in response to selecting the key 33, on the display 25). Ifthe length of period is not to be changed, the process is ended. If thelength of period is to be changed, the process proceeds to step SP24. Instep SP24, the upper limit setting screen (not shown) is displayed onthe display 25 to prompt the user to change the upper limit. Theinformation indicating the upper limit (the data indicating the lengthof each interval at which to periodically perform the calibrationprocess including acquisition of date/time information from the outsideand adjustment of the date/time on the basis of the acquired date/timeinformation, and the data indicating the upper limit of the non-responseperiod, with respect to which to compare an actual non-response periodduring which no response is received after issuing an access request tothe external server 14 for the purpose of acquiring date/timeinformation thereby determining whether to display an error message onthe display 25 to inform the user that calibration is necessary) isstored in the memory, and the process is ended.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a third data processing procedureperformed by the electronic device according to the present invention,wherein this third data processing procedure corresponds to thetransmission/reception procedure performed by a Internet facsimilemachine, depending on the value of the parameter MD. In FIG. 8, SP31 toSP36 denote step numbers. In this process, the CPU 21 reads the memory,the current values of the parameter STS and the parameter MD, and alsoreads the management table 1300 shown in FIG. 13 from the memory. TheCPU 21 controls the process in accordance with the data read from thememory.

This process is performed in response to selecting the start key 34shown in FIG. 3 or in response to a request for automatic/manualreception of Internet facsimile data.

First, in step SP31, it is determined whether the value of the parameterSTS is equal to 2. If yes, the process proceeds to step SP32. In stepSP32, data is transmitted or received. After completion of step SP32,the process is ended.

In the case in which it is determined in step SP31 that the value of theparameter STS is not equal to 2, then, in step SP33, it is furtherdetermined whether the value of the parameter MD is equal to 1. If yes,the process proceeds to step SP34. In step SP34, it is determinedwhether the operation requested to be performed is data reception. Ifyes, data reception is performed. If the operation requested to beperformed is data transmission, the process is ended without performingstep SP34.

If it is determined in step SP33 that the value of the parameter MD isnot equal to 1, the process proceeds to step SP35. In step SP35, it isdetermined whether the value of the parameter MD is equal to 2. If yes,the process proceeds to step SP36 to determine whether the operationrequested to be performed is data transmission. If the requestedoperation is data transmission, data transmission is performed. However,if the requested operation is data reception, the process is endedwithout performing anything.

In the case in which it is determined in step SP35 that the value of theparameter MD is not equal to 2, the process is ended.

In the data transmission and the data reception, an operation log isproduced and stored on the HDD 23, although a further detaileddescription is not given herein. When the operation log is produced, thevalue of the parameter STS is written together with the date/time.

As described above with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 8, theoperation is restricted depending on the values of the parameters STSand MD.

FIG. 9 shows an example of log information associated withtransmission/reception operations performed by the electronic deviceshown in FIG. 1. The log information is produced and stored in thememory (not shown) under the control of the CPU 21, and the loginformation is displayed on the display 25 in response to a requestissued by a user.

In FIG. 9, in a column of “Job ID”, ID numbers assigned to thetransmission/reception operations are described. The ID numbers areassigned in the same order as that in which the transmission/receptionoperations are performed. A column of “Send/Receive” is used to describewhether the operation is transmission or reception. In a column of“STS”, the value of the parameter STS as of the time oftransmission/reception is described. A column of “Date & Time” is usedto describe the date/time in the form of year.month.day andhour:minutes:seconds.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the log information indicates thatimmediately after the power was turned on, transmission was performedwhen STS=0, and the date/time was set manually before the secondtransmission operation was performed. Furthermore, the history of thevalue of the parameter STS indicates that date/time was set using thedate/time information service server 14 before Job ID=0004 wasprocessed.

In a job with Job ID=0009, STS=3, which indicates that the period inwhich the time information service server 14 can not be used hasexceeded the allowable upper limit of non-response period that was setbetween a job with Job ID=0008 the job with Job ID=0009.

Before the job with Job ID=10, the value of the parameter STS was resetto 2, indicating that the electronic device was recovered into a normalstatus in which the time information service server 14 can be used.

Because the log information in the example shown in FIG. 9 is a datatransmission/reception log, operations associated with setting of thedate/time are not described. If necessary, operations of manually orautomatically setting or calibrating the date/time may be described inthe log, and the log may be displayed or printed.

Although the example depicted in FIG. 9 shows only actually employedvalues of parameter “STS” and “Date & Time” information, values that theparameter STS and Date & Time information had before the above valueswere employed may also be recorded in the log.

Such a more detailed description of operation history makes it possibleto detect an occurrence of an abnormal operation.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the history of jobsprocessed by the device is recorded under the control of the CPU 21. Inthe job history, the processing mode in which each job was processed isdescribed, so as to indicate whether the job was processed in thetransmission mode or the received-data print mode. Furthermore, thestatus in which the job was processed is also described so as toindicate whether STS=0, STS=1, STS=2, or STS=3. The time at which thejob was processed is also described. If a log information displaycommand is issued by a user via the operation control unit, the CPU 21displays the history data in the form such as that shown in FIG. 9 onthe display 25.

According to the present embodiment, as described above, in theapparatus using the time information service server 14, the degree ofreliability of the date/time information used by the apparatus isrepresented by the value of the parameter STS. The value is stored,thereby making it possible for the user to know the degree of accuracyof the date/time information used by the apparatus in operations.

Use of the parameter STS also makes it possible to restrict theoperation of the apparatus in accordance with a command issued by a userwhen it is undesirable to use the apparatus in a status in which thedate/time information is not accurate enough.

A specific example of the processing flow of exchanging STS informationand date/time information is described below with reference to FIGS. 10to 12.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a communication cession (communicationprocedure) between the Internet facsimile machine 11 and the Internetfacsimile machine 310 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a fourth data processing procedureperformed by the electronic device according to the present invention,wherein this fourth data processing procedure corresponds to atransmission process performed in steps SP32 and SP36 shown in FIG. 8.In FIG. 11, SP41 to SP46 denote step numbers.

First, in step SP41, a process corresponding to accessing shown in FIG.10 is performed. In step SP42, a process corresponding to transmissionof time information of the first device and reception of timeinformation of the second device shown in FIG. 10 is performed. Asdescribed earlier, to correct the delay time in communication, the timeinformation is exchanged and the correct time is calculated.

In the present embodiment, step SP43 is added to take into account thecase where the second device being communicated with does not have thecapability to automatically set the date/time.

In step SP43, it is determined whether the second device, with whichcommunication is being performed, has the capability of automaticallysetting the date/time. If it is determined that the second device doesnot have the capability, the process proceeds to step SP45. If it isdetermined that the second device has the capability of automaticallysetting the date/time information, the process proceeds to step SP44.

In step SP44, the value of the parameter STS of the first device iscompared with that of the second device with which the first device iscommunicating, and the most optimum time information is selected.Specific examples of selection of most optimum time are described below.

EXAMPLE 1

In the case in which STS=0 in the first device (the date/time is notset) and STS=0 in the second device, the value of the parameter STS isequal to 0 in both devices, and thus each device retains its owndate/time information.

EXAMPLE 2

In the case in which STS=0 in the first device, and STS≠0 in the seconddevice, the value of the parameter STS of the second device is employedas a common value for both devices, and the date/time information of thesecond device is employed.

EXAMPLE 3

In the case in which STS=1 in the first device (the date/time has beenmanually set) and STS=0 in the second device, the value of STS of thefirst device is employed as a common value for both devices, and thedate/time information of the first device is employed.

EXAMPLE 4

In the case in which STS=1 in the first device (the date/time has beenmanually set) and STS=1 in the second device, the value of the parameterSTS is equal to 1 in both devices, and thus each device retains its owndate/time information without making a change.

EXAMPLE 5

In the case in which STS=1 in the first device and STS=2 or 3 in thesecond device, the value of STS of the second device is employed as acommon value for both devices, and the date/time information of thesecond device is employed.

EXAMPLE 6

In the case in which STS=2 in the first device and STS=2 in the seconddevice, the value of the parameter STS is equal to 2 in both devices,and thus each device retains its own date/time information.

EXAMPLE 7

In the case in which STS=2 in the first device and STS≠2 in the seconddevice, the value of 2 is employed as the value of the parameter STS inboth devices, and the date/time information of the first device isemployed.

EXAMPLE 8

In the case in which STS=3 in the first device and STS=2 in the seconddevice, the value of 2 is employed as the value of the parameter STS inboth devices, and the date/time information of the second device isemployed.

EXAMPLE 9

In the case in which STS=3 in the first device and STS=3 in the seconddevice, the value of the parameter STS is equal to 3 in both devices,and thus each device retains its own date/time information.

EXAMPLE 10

In the case in which STS=3 in the first device and STS=0 or 1 in thesecond device, the value of 3 is commonly employed as the value of theparameter STS in both devices, and the date/time information of thefirst device is employed.

Although in the examples described above, the determination is made onthe basis of result of comparison of parameter STS, date/timeinformation may be compared and the determination may be made takinginto account the result of comparison of date/time information. Morespecifically, if a large difference in date/time information isdetected, although STS=2, it is determined that an error has occurred.When such an error is detected, not only actually employed value of theparameter STS and date/time information but also the original value ofthe parameter STS and the date/time information may be recorded for usein analysis/check performed later.

In the case in which selection of optimum date/time information has beenperformed in step S44, the value of the parameter STS and the date/timeinformation of the first device are changed in step SP45 in accordancewith the selection made in step SP44.

In step SP46, facsimile transmission via the Internet is performed usingthe corrected value of the parameter STS and the corrected date/timeinformation. After completion of step SP46, the process is ended.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a fifth data processing procedureperformed by the electronic device according to the present invention,wherein this fifth data processing procedure corresponds to a receptionprocess performed in steps SP32 and SP34 shown in FIG. 8.

Steps SP51 to SP55 in FIG. 12 are identical to steps SP41 to SP45 inFIG. 11 and thus no detailed discussion of steps SP51 to SP55 isprovided. Step SP56 in FIG. 12 is similar to step SP46 in FIG. 11,except that whereas a facsimile transmission is being performed in stepSP46, a facsimile reception is being performed in step SP56.

The present embodiment of the invention is applicable not only to thefacsimile device, but to another types of electric devices such asprinters, scanners, multifunction image processing devices that canoperate as a scanner and a printer, and portable terminals (i.e.,portable telephones, digital cameras, etc.). Furthermore, the presentembodiment of the invention is also applicable to a system, such as animage processing system, including a plurality of devices connected witheach other via a network.

Specific examples of electronic devices or systems to which the presentembodiment can be advantageously applied are described below.

EXAMPLE 1

An electronic device accesses a Web page on the Internet at a specifiedtime to download the latest data from the Web page and print it.Depending on the status associated with date/time information, accessingto the Web page is disabled, or printing of the downloaded Web page isrestricted while access to the Web page is enabled. For example, whenthe device is in a status in which the time information is not accurateenough, the downloaded Web page is printed in a monochrome form even ifthe original Web page is a color page, or storing of the downloaded Webpage onto the hard disk is restricted. That is, printing of Web pages iscontrolled depending on the status associated with time information.

EXAMPLE 2

In a system in which a plurality of devices are connected with eachother via a network such that they can communicate with each other viathe network, capabilities or functions of respective devices may berestricted depending on the status associated with time information ofthe respective devices.

EXAMPLE 3

In a multifunction image processing device, when a print job, specifiedto be printed at a particular time, is input to the device, if thedevice is in a status in which the time information is not accurateenough, monochrome printing is performed even if color printing isspecified, or the print job is stored on the hard disk without beingprinted. The determination as to how to deal with print jobs may beperformed on the basis of an operation restriction table.

In the present embodiment of the invention, as described above, statusinformation indicating the status in terms of setting of timeinformation of the device using time information provision service isstored so that a user can know the status of the device and so that theoperation of the device is controlled depending on the status.

It also becomes possible to restrict the operation when the accuracy ofdate/time information cannot be guaranteed.

In addition, no restriction may be imposed when the accuracy ofdate/time information cannot be guaranteed. In this case, dataindicating such a status associated with setting of date/timeinformation may be recorded in a log.

In the device using the time information provision service (the Internetfacsimile machine in this specific example), the operation controlscreen and information including time information are displayed in anoptimum manner taking into account the capabilities of the device, theprocessing to be performed, and the environment in which the device isused. The capabilities or functions of the device are restricteddepending on the status of the device so that the device is properlyused or managed and operability is improved.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 20, other embodiments are described below.

In the embodiments described above, it is assumed that the electronicdevice is a Internet facsimile machine. However, the present inventionis not limited to the Internet facsimile machine. In the embodimentsdescribed below, the invention is applied to an image forming apparatusin the form of a multifunction digital device having a plurality ofcapabilities or functions (also referred to as modes) including acopying capability, a printing capability, and a facsimile capability.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to thepresent embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1401 according to thepresent embodiment has the capability of performing data communication,via a communication medium 1400 such as a network, with various externaldevices such as an external device 1402 serving as a time informationgenerator such as a server, a client computer 1403 serving as a hostcomputer, a client computer 1404, another multifunction digital device1405 serving as an image forming apparatus, and an Internet facsimilemachine 1406 similar to that described in the previous embodiment. Theimage forming apparatus 1401 has a plurality of operation modes,including a copy mode, a print mode, and a facsimile mode. In this imageforming apparatus 1401, job data such as job data output from a scannerunit, job data output from the client computer 1403 or 1404, job dataoutput from a scanner unit of another multifunction digital device, orjob data output from the Internet facsimile machine 1406 can be suppliedto the printer unit for printing via a storage unit such as a hard disk,output to another device via the communication unit, or output-processedin a desired manner, wherein job data can be processed at a specificspecified time using the time service capability if it is specified assuch.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the construction of the image formingapparatus 1401 according to the present embodiment. The image formingapparatus 1401 according to the present embodiment includes a controller1051, a scanner unit 1052, an operation control unit 1503, a memory1504, an external communication unit 1505, a data processing unit 1506,a printer unit 1507, and a hard disk 1508.

The scanner unit 1502 scans an original document supplied onto adocument plate from a document feeder such as an Automatic DocumentFeeder (ADF), and outputs the resultant image data to the dataprocessing unit 1506. The operation control unit 1503 includes a displayin the form of a touch panel and mechanical hard keys, and a user usesthe operation control unit 1503 to perform various setting operations.The memory 1504 is used to store programs used by the controller 1501 tocontrol various units, and also to store management information such asa management table that will be described later. The externalcommunication unit 1505 transmits and receives various data (e.g., imagedata, command data, status request information, status information, anddate/time data) to or from external devices (e.g., devices 1402 to 1406,in FIG. 14) via a communication medium such as the network 1400. Thedata processing unit 1506 includes a memory such as a page memory usedin processing image data, a data conversion unit for converting PDL datareceived from the image processing unit or an external device intobitmap data, and a data compressor/decompressor forcompressing/decompressing data. The data processing unit 1506 processesjob data (including image data) received from the scanner unit 1502 orreceived from an external device via the external communication unit1505 in accordance with specified output processing conditions, and thedata processing unit 1506 outputs the resultant image data to the harddisk 1508, or the printer unit 1507, or to an external device via theexternal communication unit 1505. The hard disk 1508 includes aplurality of storage areas in which to store a plurality of job data(image data). In particular, the hard disk 1508 is used to store jobdata received from the scanner unit 1502 via the data processing unit1506 or job data received from various external devices (for example,devices 1402 to 1406 shown in FIG. 14). The printer unit 1507 prints jobdata received, via the data processing unit 1506, from the scanner unit1502, the hard disk 1508, or external devices (for example, devices 1402to 1406 shown in FIG. 14) in accordance with specified printingconditions. The controller 1501 generally controls various units (1502to 1508) forming the image forming apparatus 1401 so that the respectiveunits operate properly. Although in the present embodiment, all theunits are located in the image forming apparatus 1401, not all units arenecessarily required to be located in the image forming apparatus 1401.Some units, for example the storage unit such as the hard disk 1508, maybe located outside of the image forming apparatus 1401. All units may belocated in a single case or may be separately located in differentcases. For example, the scanner unit 1502 and the printer unit 1507 maybe separately disposed in different cases. That is, in the presentembodiment, the image forming apparatus 1401 may be configured in manyways.

In order to obtain the operation status of the above-described units,the controller 1501 transmits inquiries to and receives responses fromthe units. For example, from status information received from thescanner unit 1502, the controller 1501 can know whether the scanner 1502is scanning a document or whether the scanner 1502 has a document jam.From status information from the hard disk 1508, the controller 1501 canknow whether job data is being written or read to or from the hard disk1508. From status information from the printer unit 1507, the controller1501 can know whether the printer unit 1507 is in operation of printingor whether the printer unit 1507 has an error. From status informationfrom the external communication unit 1505, the controller 1501 can knowwhether the external communication unit is transmitting or receivingdata to or from the outside.

As with the previous embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1401 hasthe date/time information service capability. A user is allowed tomanually set date/time information (first-type date/time data) via theoperation control unit 1503 of the apparatus. Furthermore, the date/timeinformation (second-type date/time data) can be set in accordance withdate/time information acquired from the external time informationgenerator (1402 in FIG. 14) with which the apparatus is capable ofcommunicating. The operations associated with setting of the date/timeinformation (i.e., displaying of the operation control screen,controlling of the operation mode, etc.) are performed under the controlof the controller 1501. In response to a command issued by a user, thecontroller 1501 sends a request for date/time data to the externaldevice 1402 serving as the external time information generator (alsocalled the date/time information server) via the network 1400. Inresponse to the request, the external device 1402 returns accuratedate/time data to the image forming apparatus 1401. The image formingapparatus 1401 sets the date/time information on the basis of thereceived data. In the present embodiment, the controller 1501 of theimage forming apparatus 1401 may acquire date/time data from theexternal time information generator by issuing a request for date/timedata to the external time information generator as described above, orthe external time information generator 1402 may send date/time data tothe image forming apparatus 1401 at scheduled intervals so that theimage forming apparatus 1401 can acquire date/time data from theexternal time information generator 1402 without having to issue therequest for the date/time data. In a case in which a user of the imageforming apparatus 1401 issues a request for external date/time data viaa user interface such as the operation control unit 1503, the imageforming apparatus 1401 immediately performs an operation to acquiredate/time data from the external device 1402. On the basis of thedate/time data acquired from the external device 1402, the controller1501 displays various kinds of information on the operation control unit1503 and, if necessary, restricts the capability or the operation modeof the image forming apparatus.

The controller 1501 includes a timer unit. For example, if date/timedata is manually input via the operation control unit, the controller1501 measures the passage of time in units of seconds from the inputdate/time by using the timer unit, and the controller 1501 reflects themeasurement result in the date/time information. For example, thecontroller 1501 displays the current date/time on the operation controlunit 1503 on the basis of the date/time information obtained by themeasurement. In the case in which the date/time is set on the basis ofthe date/time data acquired from the outside, the controller 1501similarly measures the passage of time in units of seconds from theinput date/time by using the timer unit, and the controller 1501reflects the measurement result in the date/time information.

The operation control unit 1503 that operates under the control of thecontroller 1501 is described below with reference to FIG. 16. Theoperation control unit 1503 includes a display 1601 and a mechanicalhard key unit 1602. The display 1601 is formed of a liquid crystal touchpanel capable of displaying various kinds of information and capable ofresponding to touching soft keys displayed on the panel. Note that theuser interface is not limited to such a touch panel, but another type ofuser interface may also be employed. For example, as with a printerdriver, keys of the user interface may be clicked in response to anoperation performed on a pointing device such as a mouse. That is, theoperation control unit 1503 may be formed in an arbitrary manner as longas it has the capability of displaying necessary information and thecapability of accepting a command issued by a user.

If a key 1603 is pressed by a user, the power of the image formingapparatus 1401 is turned on or off. If a start key 1604 is pressed by auser, processing of a job specified by the user is started. Numericalkeys 1605 are used to input numeric data. If a user key 1606 is pressed,a user mode setting screen for use in various kinds of settings such asinitial setting, manager setting, and timer setting is displayed. Thehard key unit 1602 also includes an indicator for informing a user thatdata is being received, an indicator that blinks when an error occursthereby informing the user that error has occurred, and an indicator forinforming the user that the power is in the on-state.

Referring to FIG. 17, examples of operation control screens, which aredisplayed on the display 1601 of the operation control unit 1503 underthe control of the controller 1501, are described below.

FIG. 17A shows an example of an operation control screen 1700 displayedon the display 1601. In this example, the operation control screen 1700includes the following three elements: (1) a function selection area1701 in which there are disposed functions keys for use by a user toselect an operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1401 from aplurality of operation modes including a copy mode, a transmission mode,a facsimile mode, box mode, and an extension mode; (2) a processcondition setting area 1702 including control keys for use by a user tospecify various processing conditions (e.g., parameters associated withprinting) for job data (image data) to be processed in an operation modeselected in the function selection area 1701; and (3) a status displayarea 1703 for displaying various kinds of status information indicatingthe operation status of the image forming apparatus 1401 (e.g., imagedata is being read, image data is being printed, error informationindicating an occurrence of a document jam, a printing paper jam, or astaple jam, or warning information indicating shortage of toner orpaper). The contents of the process condition setting area 1702 aremodified depending on the mode selected in the function selection area1701. The function selection area 1701 is controlled such that this areais always accessible regardless of the type of the operation controlscreen that is currently displayed. More specifically, the functionselection area 1701 is always displayed even when the current operationcontrol screen is changed to another operation control screen, therebyallowing a user to select an operation mode. The status display area1703 is always displayed regardless of which operation control screen isdisplayed, so that status information associated with the image formingapparatus is always displayed. More specifically, the status displayarea 1703 is always displayed even when the current operation controlscreen is switched to another operation control screen.

In the copy mode of the image forming apparatus 1401, job data (alsoreferred to as image data) output from the scanner unit 1502 is suppliedto the printer unit 1507 via a memory such as the hard disk 1508, andthe printer unit 1507 performs printing in accordance with the receivedjob data. In the external data print mode, job data received from anexternal device such as the client computer 1403, the client computer1404, the multifunction digital device 1405, or the facsimile machine1406, is supplied to the printer unit 1507 via the memory such as thehard disk 1508, and the printer unit 1507 performs printing inaccordance with the supplied job data. In the box mode, job data outputfrom the scanner unit 1502 or job data received from an external device(external devices 1403 to 1406), is stored in a storage area (box area)of the hard disk 1508, and a particular job data selected via theoperation control unit 1503 is read from the box area and printed by theprinter unit 1507 or transferred to an external device via the externalcommunication unit 1505. In the present embodiment, as described above,the image forming apparatus has a plurality of operation modes,including at least the two operation modes described above. Note thatthe number of operation modes is not essential to the present invention.For example, the present invention may also be applied to asingle-function image forming apparatus having only one operation mode.

In the image forming apparatus 1401 according to the present embodiment,date/time information is displayed on the display 1601 under the controlof the controller 1501. Furthermore, a message is displayed on thedisplay 1601 under the control of the controller 1501 to notify a userwhether date/time information used by the image forming apparatus 1401has already been set. If the date/time information has already been set,notification is also provided as to whether the date/time information isbased on date/time data (first-type date/time data) manually set by auser via the operation control unit 1503 of the image forming apparatus1401 or based on date/time data (second-type date/time data) suppliedfrom the external time information generator (e.g., the external server1402). Note that the display 1601 is merely one example of thenotification unit, and the notification unit may be realized in variousmanners. For example, notification information described above may beprovided to a user by using a voice unit that outputs voicenotification. Various operation control screens are displayed on theoperation control unit 1503 under the control of the controller 1501 asdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 17B to 17H.

In the present embodiment, the controller 1501 detects and manages thestatus information associated with time information on the basis of timedata set by a user via the operation control unit 1503, time data storedin the memory 1504, and time data supplied from the external timeinformation generator (such as the time information server 1402 shown inFIG. 14) via the external communication unit 1505. The controller 1501displays status information indicating the current status of the imageforming apparatus 1401 on the display 1601 and restricts the operationmode depending on the current status. More specifically, the imageforming apparatus 1401 can be in one of the following statuses:

(1) a first status (first date/time status) in which date/time data usedby the image forming apparatus 1401 has not been set either manually bya user or automatically by accessing the date/time information server.That is either first-type date/time data or second-type date/time datais used in the image forming apparatus 1401.

(2) a second status (second date/time status) in which date/timeinformation used by the image forming apparatus 1401 has already beenset, wherein the setting of the date/time information has been performedon the basis of date/time data (first-type date/time data) manuallyinput by a user via the operation control unit 1503 of the image formingapparatus 1401, and the image forming apparatus 1401 is in operation onthe basis of the date/time information. That is, date/time informationbased on the first-type date/time data is currently used in the imageforming apparatus 1401).

(3) a third status (third date/time status) in which date/timeinformation used by the image forming apparatus 1401 has already beenset, wherein the setting of the date/time information has been performedon the basis of date/time data (second-type date/time data) acquiredfrom the external time information generator (such as the externalserver 1402), and the image forming apparatus 1401 is in operation onthe basis of the date/time information that is highly reliable with highaccuracy. That is, date/time information based on the second-typedate/time data is currently used in the image forming apparatus 1401.

(4) a fourth status (fourth date/time status) in which althoughdate/time information used by the image forming apparatus 1401 hasalready been set, the date/time information is not accurate enough andthus it is necessary to calibrate the date/time information (i.e.,adjusted to a correct date/time), and the image forming apparatus 1401is in operation using the date/time information that needs calibration.That is, the date/time information currently used by the image formingapparatus 1401 needs to calibrated.

In the image forming apparatus 1401 according to the present embodiment,as described above, the controller 1501 deals with the statusinformation to indicate the current status of the image formingapparatus 1401, wherein the status can be one of the plurality ofstatuses described above.

In the case in which the controller 1501 determines that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is currently in the first status associated withthe date/time information, the controller 1501 displays a messageindicating that the image forming apparatus 1401 is in the first statusin the status display area of the operation control screen displayed onthe display 1601 For example, the status display area 1703 b in theoperation control screen 1700 b shown in FIG. 17B.

In the case in which the controller 1501 determines that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is currently in the second status associated withthe date/time information, the controller 1501 displays a messageindicating that the image forming apparatus 1401 is in the second statusin the status display area of the operation control screen displayed onthe display 1601 For example, the status display area 1703 c in theoperation control screen 1700 c shown in FIG. 17C.

In the case in which the controller 1501 determines that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is currently in the third status associated withthe date/time information, the controller 1501 displays a messageindicating that the image forming apparatus 1401 is in the third statusin the status display area of the operation control screen displayed onthe display 1601 For example, the status display area 1703 d in theoperation control screen 1700 d shown in FIG. 17D.

In the case in which the controller 1501 determines that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is currently in the fourth status associated withthe date/time information, the controller 1501 displays a messageindicating that the image forming apparatus 1401 is in the fourth statusin the status display area of the operation control screen displayed onthe display 1601 For example, the status display area 1703 e in theoperation control screen 1700 e shown in FIG. 17E.

As described above, the controller 1501 displays a notification messageon the notification unit so that a user is informed as to which one ofthe plurality of statuses associated with date/time information theimage forming apparatus 1401 is currently in.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the image formingapparatus 1401 has a plurality of operation modes (capabilities)including the copy mode and the box mode, and the operation controlscreen displayed on the display 1601 varies depending on the selectedoperation mode under the control of the controller 1601. This enables auser to easily input data or issue a command via the operation controlscreen.

That is, in the present embodiment, the operation control screen isdesigned such that the improvement in operability in respectiveoperation modes is achieved, and such that status information associatedwith time information is displayed to inform a user of the currentstatus of the device thereby allowing the user to use the device in aconvenient manner, as described below with reference to specificexamples.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 1401 according to thepresent embodiment has a plurality of operation modes that can beselected using mode selection keys (e.g., a copy key, a transmit/faxkey, a box key, an extension key, in the example shown in FIG. 17)provided in the mode selection area 1701 in the operation controlscreen. If one of those mode selection keys is selected, the controller1501 switches the contents of the operation control screen displayed onthe display 1601 to those corresponding to the selected mode. The user,via the operation control unit 1503, can specify a desired operationcontrol screen corresponding to a particular mode as an initialoperation control screen. The operation control screen corresponding tothe copy mode is specified as the initial operation control screen inthis specific example.

The controller 1501 displays status information associated with timeinformation on the display while maintaining the operation controlscreen displayed on the display.

For example, in the case in which the image forming apparatus 1401 iscurrently in the second status associated with date/time information,and the copy mode is selected as a default mode, the controller 1501displays the operation control screen on the display 1601 as shown inFIG. 17C such that the mode selection area 1701 c, the process conditionsetting area 1702 c for use in setting process conditions in the copymode, and the status display area 1703 c including the notificationmessage indicating that the image forming apparatus 1401 is in thesecond status are displayed.

In this state, for example, if a user selects a transmit/fax key in themode selection area 1701 c on the operation control screen 1700 c, thecontroller 1501 switches the current operation control screen displayedon display 1601 into the operation control screen adapted to thetransmit/fax mode. The controller 1501 also displays a notificationmessage on the display 1601 to notify the user that the image formingapparatus 1401 is in the second status associated with date/timeinformation. More specifically, in this case, as shown in FIG. 17F, thecontroller 1501 displays, on the display 1601, the following three areasall together: the mode selection area 1701 f; the process conditionsetting area 1702 f for use in setting the processing conditions in thetransmit/fax mode; and the status display area 1703 f including thenotification message indicating that the image forming apparatus 1401 isin the second status.

That is, via the operation control screen 1700 f displayed under thecontrol of the controller 1501 as shown in FIG. 17F, the user isinformed that the image forming apparatus 1401 is currently in thesecond status associated with date/time information, and the user canset processing conditions (e.g., parameters associated withtransmission, such as a destination, a transmission form, a condition ofreading a document, a file format, a stamp, and a job completionnotification) for job data to be transmitted in the transmit/fax mode,in the process condition setting screen 1702. If the user selects thestart key 1604 after completion of the setting associated withtransmission conditions, the external communication unit 1505 transmitsthe job data in accordance with the conditions specified by the user.

In a case in which the image forming apparatus 1401 is currently in thethird status associated with date/time information, and the copy mode isselected as the default mode on the initial screen, the controller 1501controls the operation control unit 1503 such that the mode selectionarea 1701 d, the process condition setting area 1702 d for use insetting process conditions in the copy mode, and the status display area1703 d including the notification message indicating that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is in the third status are displayed on thedisplay 1601 as shown in FIG. 17D.

In this state, if a user selects the box key in the mode selection area1701 d on the operation control screen 1700 d, the controller 1501switches the current operation control screen displayed on display 1601into the operation control screen adapted to the box mode. Thecontroller 1501 also displays a notification massage on the display 1601to notify the user that the image forming apparatus 1401 is in the thirdstatus associated with date/time information. More specifically, in thiscase, the controller 1501 controls the display 1601 such that the modeselection area 1701 g, the process condition setting area 1702 g for usein setting process conditions in the box mode, and the status displayarea 1703 g including the notification message indicating that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is in the third status are displayed on thedisplay 1601 as shown in FIG. 17G.

In the box mode, at least a part of the storage area of the hard disk1508 of the image forming apparatus 1401 is allocated as the box area,and the box area is divided into a plurality of boxes. The boxes areassigned to respective users so that a plurality of job data (imagedata) can be stored in each box. More specifically, job data output fromthe scanner unit 1502 or job data received from an external device(external devices 1402 to 1406) can be stored in a selected box (such anoperation is referred to as reading into box). When job data stored in abox is output, a user selects a box from the plurality of boxes via theoperation control unit 1503 and job data from the selected box. The userfurther sets processing conditions to be applied to the selected jobdata. Thereafter, in response to an output command in the box modeissued via the operation control unit 1503, the job data selected by theuser is read from the selected box and transmitted to the outside orprinted by the printer unit in accordance with the processing conditionsspecified by the user for the job (the process is referred to as anoutput-from-box process).

Thus, via the operation control screen 1700 g displayed under thecontrol of the controller 1501 as shown in FIG. 17G, the user isinformed that the image forming apparatus 1401 is currently in the thirdstatus associated with date/time information, and the user can setprocessing conditions (e.g., parameters associated with the operation inthe box mode such as selection of a box, selection of a job from theselected box, and output processing conditions to be applied to theselected job) for job data to be output in the box mode in the processcondition setting area 1702 g.

When a job data is stored in a box in the box mode (store-into-boxprocess), a user selects a desired box from the plurality of boxes(e.g., 100 boxes) formed on the hard disk 1508 by clicking a box key inthe box selection area 1704 g. In this specific example, it is assumedthat a box with box number 1 has been selected. In response to selectionof a box, the controller 1501 displays a job selection screen 1700 h foruse in selecting a job from the selected box on the display 1601 asshown in FIG. 17H. In this specific case, the image forming apparatus1402 is in the third status associated with date/time information asdescribed above, and the controller 1501 controls the display 1601 suchthat the job selection screen 1700 h for use in the box mode isdisplayed on the display 1601 while maintaining the notification messageso as to indicate that the image forming apparatus 1401 is in the thirdstatus.

The job selection screen 1700 h includes a list display area 1709 hhaving the capability of displaying information associated with jobsstored in boxes (i.e., job name, paper size, number of pages, storagedate/time, etc.) and the capability of allowing a user to select a jobfrom a desired box. In the example shown in FIG. 17H, two jobs (two setsof image data) have already been stored in the box, wherein one jobincludes 12 pages and the other job includes 1 page. As shown, a usercan obtain job information, such as storage date/time informationindicating the date/time at which each job has been stored in thecorresponding box, associated with the jobs stored in a particular boxvia screen 1700 h. If a user selects scan key 1707 h, the controller1501 starts the store-into-box process to store job data received from,in this example, the scanner unit 1502 into the selected box. In thisspecific case, if the store-into-box process is completed, informationassociated with job data from the scan operation is displayed in thelist below the second job already stored.

In the output-from-box process, a user selects a box via the screen 1700g shown in FIG. 17G (in this specific example shown in FIG. 17G, it isassumed that a box with box number 1 has been selected). In response toselecting a box, a job selection screen 1705 h for use in selecting ajob from the selected user box is displayed. Via a list display area1709 h, the user selects a desired job. In this specific example, a jobsecond in the list display area 1709 h is selected. After selecting thejob, if, for example, a print key 1706 h is pressed by the user, theselected job is printed by the printer unit 1507 in accordance with thespecified printing conditions under the control of the controller 1501.On the other hand, in the case in which a transmit key 1708 h is pressedby the user after selecting a job, the selected job is transmitted tothe outside via the external communication unit 1505 in accordance withspecified transmission conditions under the control of the controller1501. In the present embodiment, a user can set the output conditionsassociated with respective jobs in two ways. First, when job data isstored in a box, output conditions to be applied to that job data aredetermined, and output condition data indicating the output conditionsis stored in the box together with the job data. When the job is output,the outputting of the job is performed in accordance with the outputconditions indicated by the output condition data stored in the box.Second, a condition setting screen (not shown) is displayed. Via thissetting screen, a user can set or change output conditions associatedwith a selected job.

As can be understood from the above description, when the controllerswitches the current operation mode into another operation mode inresponse to an operation performed by a user (i.e., when the currentoperation control screen for use in a certain mode displayed on thedisplay 1601 is switched into another operation control screen for usein another mode), the status information indicating the current statusassociated with date/time information used by the image formingapparatus 1401 is always displayed in the status display area 1703 onthe display 1601 so that the user is informed of the current statusassociated with date/time information regardless of which operationcontrol screen is currently displayed. For example, in theabove-described example in which when the status associate withdate/time information is in the second status, even if the screendisplayed on the display 1601 is switched by the controller 1501 fromthe operation control screen 1700 c for use in the copy mode shown inFIG. 17C to the operation control screen 1700 f for use in thetransmit/fax mode, displaying of the status information is continued. Inaddition, when the status associated with date/time information is inthe third status, even if the screen displayed on the display 1601 isswitched by the controller 1501 from the operation control screen 1700 dfor use in the copy mode shown in FIG. 17D to the operation controlscreen 1700 g for use in the box mode shown in FIG. 17G, displaying ofthe status information continues.

Furthermore, in the case in which in the same operation mode, a userperforms setting using a plurality of operation control screens, evenwhen the current operation control screen displayed on the display 1601is switched to another operation control screen, the controller 1501controls the display 1601 such that the status information indicatingthe current status associated with date/time information is alwaysdisplayed in the status display area 1703 on the display 1601 therebyinforming the user of the current status associated with date/timeinformation any time the user wishes to know the current status. Forexample, in the above-described example in which when the statusassociate with date/time information is in the third status, even if thescreen displayed on the display 1601 is switched from the operationcontrol screen 1700 g for use in the box mode shown in FIG. 17G to theoperation control screen 1700 h for use also in the box mode shown inFIG. 17H, displaying of the status information is continues.

In the box mode according to the present embodiment, a password orauthentication data, which may be stored in an IC card or the like, canbe set for each box. Some boxes may be assigned passwords orauthentication data, while some boxes may not. When a user access aparticular box for the purpose of store-into-box or output-from-boxprocess, in the case in which it is required to input authenticationdata to use that box access to that box is allowed only when theauthentication data corresponding to that box is input via the operationcontrol screen. On the other hand, in the case in which noauthentication data is required to use the box, the user is allowed toaccess the box without having to input authentication data.

In the present embodiment, as described above, not only is statusinformation displayed to inform the user of the current status of thedevice in terms of time information, but the operation control screen isalso displayed, taking into account that the time service can beprovided and the device has the plurality of operation modes. Thisenables the user to easily use the various capabilities or functions ofthe device by inputting data or issuing a command via the operationcontrol screen that is switched/modified depending on the operationmode. When necessary, the user is allowed to input data or issue acommand over a plurality of operation control screens in the same mode.This makes it possible to effectively use the capabilities or functionsof the device using the time service. In particular, the presentembodiment of the invention is very useful when it is applied to amultifunction device having the time service capability.

In the operation control screen according to the present embodiment, themode selection area 1701 and the process condition setting area 1702 areformed in a single screen area, and the status display area 1703 isformed in another screen area. Alternatively, those three displayelements may be formed in a single screen area or they may be formedseparately in different screen areas. In any case, display elements aredesigned so that a user can obtain information about the current statusassociated with time information in real time whenever the user needsthe information, regardless of the current operation mode and regardlessof whether the operation control screen corresponding to the currentoperation mode (e.g., copy mode) is switched to another operationcontrol screen corresponding to another operation mode (e.g., facsimilemode).

The operation performed by a user to set the first-type time data usedby the image forming apparatus 1401 and the operation to set thesecond-type time data are described below with reference to FIG. 18.

If a user mode key 1606 on the operation control unit 1503 shown in FIG.16 is selected by a user, the control unit 1501 displays a user modesetting screen 1800 a on the display 1601 as shown in FIG. 18A for useby the user for performing common settings.

In the user mode setting screen 1800 a, if a timer setting key 1801 a isselected by the user, the controller 1501 displays a timer settingscreen 1800 b on the display 1601 as shown in FIG. 18B.

When the timer setting screen 1800 b is displayed on the display 1601,the controller 1501 displays a date/time setting key 1802 b and also anotification message indicating the current status associated withdate/time information used by the image forming apparatus 1401. In thepresent example, the current status associated with date/timeinformation is in the first status. Herein, if the date/time setting key1802 b is selected, the controller 1501 displays, on the display 1601, adate/time setting screen 1800 c, including keys 1803 c to 1805 c asshown in FIG. 18C, thereby allowing the user to select whether date/timedata is to be manually set by the user or automatically set by accessingthe external time information generator.

After the key 1803 c on the screen 1800 c is selected, if a OK key 1807c is selected by the user, the controller 1501 determines that the userhas selected that date/time data should be automatically acquired fromthe outside. The controller 1501 acquires data/time data from theexternal time information generator (i.e., the time informationgenerator 1402 shown in FIG. 14) via the network 1400 and the acquireddate/time data may be displayed on the display 1806 c. Thereafter, thecontroller 1501 displays date/time information on the basis of theacquired date/time data and controls the image forming apparatus 1401 soas to operate on the basis of the acquired date/time data. In the casewhere the key 1804 c is selected followed by the OK key 1807 c, thecontroller 1501 disables the image forming apparatus 1401 to acquiredata/time data from the outside.

If the key 1805 c is selected by the user, the controller 1501determines that manual setting of date/time data is requested, and thecontroller 1501 prompts the user to input time data via the timeinformation setting area 1806 c and the numeric keys 1605. Thereafter,if the OK key 1807 c is selected, the controller 1501 displays date/timeinformation on the basis of the manually input date/time data andcontrols the image forming apparatus 1401 so as to operate on the basisof the manually input date/time data. If the user selects any one ofkeys 1803 c to 1805 c, the controller 1501 determines that the date/timedata is unset.

The controller 1501 stores the setting information input by the user viathe date/time setting screen into the memory 1504 as initial settinginformation. In a case in which no keys on the date/time setting screenare operated by the user, and neither first-type date/time data norsecond-type date/time data is input, the controller 1501 determines thatthe status of the image forming apparatus 1401 in terms of date/timeinformation is in the first state. In the case in which a user setsdate/time data via the key 1805 c, the controller 1501 determines thatthe status of the image forming apparatus 1401 in terms of date/timeinformation is in the second state. In the case in which automaticacquisition of date/time data from the outside has been selected by auser via the key 1803 c, and date/time data has been successfullyacquired from the external time information generator, and furthermore,the image forming apparatus 1401 is in correct operation on the basis ofthe acquired date/time data, the controller 1501 determines that thestatus of the image forming apparatus 1401 in terms of date/timeinformation is in the third state. In the case in which the controller1501 determines that although a user has issued an automatic date/timedata acquisition request by selecting the key 1803 c, acquisition ofdate/time data from the external time information generator isimpossible or adjustment (calibration) of date/time information isfailed, the controller 1501 determines that the status of the imageforming apparatus 1401 in terms of date/time information is in thefourth state. On the basis of the determination in terms of the statusassociated with date/time information, the controller 1501 controlsdisplaying of the operation control screens (1700 b to 1700 h shown inFIG. 17) and restricts the operation mode of the image forming apparatus1401.

The control of the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1401 bythe controller 1501 is described in further detail below. As describedabove, the image forming apparatus 1401 has a plurality of operationmodes including at least one of a copy mode, transmit/fax mode, printermode, and box mode. In each mode, a plurality of parameters indicatingprocessing conditions to be applied to each job data can be set (i.e.,in the copy mode, for example double-sided printing, stapling, and aN-in-1 format may be set for a particular job data).

In the image forming apparatus 1401 constructed in the above-describedmanner, when job data specified by a user is processed in response to ajob processing request issued by the user, the controller 1501 performsan operation mode determination process to determine in which operationmode of the plurality of operation modes to process the job data.Furthermore, the controller 1501 determines processing conditions to beapplied to the job data. The controller 1501 also performs a date/timestatus detection process to determine which one of the first to fourthstatuses associated with date/time information the image formingapparatus 1401 is in. On the basis of the results of the determinationprocesses described above, and also on the basis of the restriction ruledescribed in the enabled/disabled operation table such as that shown inFIG. 19 and stored as the management data in the memory 1504, thecontroller 1501 determines whether to permit execution of the job data.FIG. 19 depicts what operation modes are enabled or disabled, inrespective first to fourth statuses. FIG. 19 also shows what processingconditions are allowed or prohibited in respective operation modes andin respective statuses. As required, a user is able to modify the datain the enabled/disabled operation table shown in FIG. 19.

For example, according to the enabled/disabled operation table shown inFIG. 19, in the third status associated with date/time information usedby the image forming apparatus 1401, all operation modes of the imageforming apparatus 1401 are enabled. In the second status, of theplurality of operation modes, the first operation mode and the secondmode are enabled, but the third operation mode is disabled. On the otherhand, in the first status, the first operation mode is enabled, but thesecond and third operation modes are disabled. In the fourth status, thefirst, second, and third operation modes are disabled. The controller1501 controls the above-described restriction of the operation mode.

Even in the same operation mode, processing of particular job data isenabled or disabled depending on processing conditions specified to beapplied to that job data. That is, the controller 1501 enables ordisables the operation depending on the processing conditions anddepending on the status associated with date/time information in theabove described manner.

This makes it possible to properly control the operation of the imageforming apparatus 1401 having particular capabilities, modes, andfunctions, depending on the status associated with date/timeinformation.

An example of the control process performed by the controller 1501 tocontrol jobs in accordance with the enabled/disabled operation tableshown in FIG. 19 is described below. Note that the control of jobs canbe performed differently.

For example, in a case in which job data (a set of image data) requestedby a user to be output is specified to be processed in the copy mode,processing of that job data is enabled regardless of the processingconditions specified to be applied to that job data and regardless ofwhich one of the first to forth statuses associated with date/timeinformation the image forming apparatus 1401 is in (see the “copy mode”section of the enabled/disabled operation table 1900 in FIG. 19).

In a case in which job data (a set of image data) requested by a user tobe output is specified to be processed in the transmit/fax mode, if theimage forming apparatus 1401 is in the first status associated withdate/time information (hereinafter, such a situation will be describedsimply as “in the first status) and if the processing conditionsspecified to be applied to that job data includes at least one of thenormal facsimile transmission mode (i.e., the file transmission mode,the store-into-box mode, and the normal reception mode), the processingof that job data is enabled. Furthermore, in the first status, in a casein which the processing conditions specified to be applied to the jobdata includes at least one of the confidential facsimile transmissionmode, the e-mail transmission mode, the Internet facsimile transmissionmode, and the confidential facsimile reception mode, although theprocessing of that job data is not disabled, a warning message isdisplayed on the display 1601 via the notification unit to inform theuser of the above fact before the processing is executed. If the useragrees to execution of the job data, the job data is processed. In thefirst status, if the processing conditions specified to be applied tojob data includes the timer transmission mode or the timer receptionmode, the processing of that job data is disabled (see “transmit/faxmode” section of the enabled/disabled operation table 1900 shown in FIG.19).

Similarly, the controller 1501 controls execution of processing of jobdata depending on the status, the mode, and the processing conditionsspecified to be applied to the job data. The manner of controlling theexecution of processing of job data in each status is summarized below.

(1) In the case in which the controller 1501 determines that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is currently in the first status, the controller1501 enables processing of job data according to the specifiedprocessing conditions if the job data is one of the following:

job data specified to be processed in the copy mode, regardless of theprocessing conditions;

job data specified to be processed in the transmit/fax mode and furtherspecified to be processed in one of the following modes: normalfacsimile transmission mode, store-into-box mode, direct transmissionmode, and normal reception mode;

job data specified to be processed in the printer mode and furtherspecified to be processed in one of the following modes:single-sided/double-sided printing mode, sort mode, staple mode,scaled-down layout mode, scaled-up layout mode, edit mode, and watermarkmode; and

job data specified to be processed in the box mode and further specifiedto be processed in one of the following modes: store-into-box with nopassword, store-into-box with password, output-from-box,single-side/double-sided printing, sort mode, and stable mode.

In the first status, if the job data is one of the following, thecontroller 1501 displays a warning message on the notification unit suchas the display 1601, and enables processing of the job data according tothe specified processing conditions (a user is allowed to select whetherto actually execute the processing of the job via the operation controlunit 1503):

job data specified to be processed in the transmit/fax mode and furtherspecified to be processed in one of the following modes: confidentialfacsimile transmission, e-mail transmission, Internet facsimiletransmission, and confidential facsimile reception;

job data specified to be processed in the printer mode and furtherspecified to be processed in the hold job mode, in which input job datais not immediately printed but temporarily stored on the hard disk 1508so that the job data is printed by the printer 1507 when a print commandis issued via the operation control unit 1503; and

job data specified to be processed in the box mode and further specifiedto be output from a box with a password.

The controller 1501 disables processing when job data historyinformation is displayed on the display 1601 or if the job data is oneof the following:

job data specified to be processed in the transmit/fax mode and furtherspecified to be processed in one of the following modes: timertransmission, job completion notification, timer reception, and outputof communication management report;

job data specified to be processed in the printer mode and furtherspecified to be processed in the secure print mode, in which input jobdata is not immediately printed but temporarily stored on the hard disk1508 so that the job data is printed by the printer 1507 whenauthentication data is input by a user via the operation control unit1503; and

job data specified to be processed in the box mode and further specifiedto be automatically deleted when a predetermined period of time haselapsed since the job data was stored in a box or since the job data wasoutput from the box and printed;

(2) In the case in which the controller 1501 determines that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is currently in the second status, if job data isone of the following, the controller 1501 displays a warning message onthe notification unit such as the display 1601 and enables processing ofthe job data according to the specified processing conditions:

job data specified to be processed in the transmit/fax mode and furtherspecified to be processed in one of the following modes: e-mailtransmission, and output of communication management report; and

job data specified that job history is displayed.

For job data other than the above, the controller 1501 enablesprocessing.

(3) In the case in which the controller 1501 determines that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is currently in the third status, the controller1501 enables processing of job data regardless of the specifiedprocessing conditions.

(4) In the case in which the controller 1501 determines that the imageforming apparatus 1401 is currently in the fourth status, if job data isone of the following, the controller 1501 displays a warning message onthe notification unit such as the display 1601 and enables processing ofthe job data according to the specified processing conditions:

job data specified to be processed in the transmit/fax mode and furtherspecified to be processed in one of the following modes: normalfacsimile transmission, e-mail transmission, Internet facsimiletransmission, storage into a box, and direct transmission; and

job data specified that job history is displayed.

In the fourth status, the controller 1501 disables processing of any ofthe followings

job data specified to be processed in the transmit/fax mode and furtherspecified to be processed in one of the following modes: confidentialfacsimile transmission, timer transmission, job completion notification,confidential facsimile reception; timer reception, and output ofcommunication management report;

job data specified to be processed in the printer mode and furtherspecified to be processed in one of the following modes: secure printmode and hold job mode; and

job data specified to be processed in the box mode and further specifiedto be output from a box with a password or automatically deleted.

In a case in which specified processing conditions are different fromany of the above, the controller 1501 enables processing of that jobdata.

As described above, the controller 1501 restricts the operation mode inaccordance with the enabled/disabled operation table shown in FIG. 19.

In the present embodiment, as can be understood from the examplesdescribed above, of the plurality of operation modes or processingconditions, those operation modes or processing conditions that needaccurate date/time information (e.g., timer transmission, timerreception, and communication management report mode in the transmit/faxmode, and automatic delete mode in the box mode) are enabled when theimage forming apparatus 1401 is in the second or third status,preferably only in the third status, and disabled when the image formingapparatus 1401 is in neither the second nor third status. Of theplurality of operation modes or processing conditions, those operationmodes or processing conditions that do not need accurate date/timeinformation are enabled even in the first or fourth status.

This makes it possible to use or perform the operation modes orprocessing conditions that need accurate date/time information (close totrue date/time) in a highly reliable fashion. When the date/timeinformation used by the image forming apparatus 1401 is detected to beunreliable, the operation modes or processing conditions that needaccurate date/time information are restricted. This prevents job datathat needs accurate date/time information from being performed in asituation in which although the date/time has been set, the date/time isnot accurate enough. Thus, it becomes possible to prevent a problem thatwill occur if job data that needs accurate date/time information isperformed on the basis of inaccurate date/time information. Furthermore,an additional advantage is that the status associated with date/timeinformation is displayed on the display, and thus the user is informedof the status.

In the present embodiment, of the plurality of operation modes orprocessing conditions, those operation modes or processing conditionsthat are important and that need high security (e.g., secure print modein the printer mode, store-into-box or output-from-box with password inthe box mode) are enabled when the image forming apparatus 1401 is inthe second or third status, preferably only in the third status, anddisabled when the image forming apparatus 1401 is in neither the secondnor third status. Of the plurality of operation modes or processingconditions, those operation modes or processing conditions that are notimportant and that do not need high security are enabled even in thefirst or fourth status.

Note that the manner of restricting the operation is not limited to thatdescribed above, but the rule(s) of restricting the operation may bedetermined depending on the features and capabilities of the imageforming apparatus 1401, and may be described in an enabled/disabledoperation table similar to that shown in FIG. 19.

When a plurality of processing conditions are specified for the same jobdata, if the plurality of processing conditions include a condition thatis not allowed in the enabled/disabled operation table shown in FIG. 19(such a condition is denoted by symbol x) and a condition that isallowed (such a condition is denoted by symbol ◯), the determination asto whether to enable or disable processing of that job data may be madeon the basis of the unallowable condition such that processing of thejob data is disabled if the plurality of processing conditions includeany unallowable condition. The determination may be made such thatalthough processing in the unallowable mode of the plurality ofspecified processing conditions is disabled, processing in an allowablemode of the plurality of specified processing conditions is enabled. Forexample, in the first status, for job data specified to be processed inthe box mode, if both the output-from-box with no password (allowable inthe table shown in FIG. 19) and the automatic delete mode (unallowablein the table shown in FIG. 19) are specified, the controller 1501 maycontrol the printer unit 1507 and the hard disk 1508 in either such amanner that although the job data is allowed to be output from the boxand printed, the job data is not automatically deleted or such a mannerthat the outputting of the job and the automatic deleting are disabled.In any case, the controller 1501 controls associated units or parts suchthat any unallowable processing condition is not permitted.

Disabling of processing can be accomplished, for example, as follows.When processing conditions to be applied to job data are specified by auser via the operation control unit 1503, the specified processingconditions are ignored and associated units (e.g., the scanner unit1502, the data processing unit 1506, the external communication unit1505, the printer unit 1507, and/or the hard disk 1508,) are controlledsuch that they do not operate. Another method is to delete operationcontrol keys (i.e., soft keys on the touch panel) necessary inspecifying the processing conditions from the operation control screen.Alternatively, such operation control keys may be displayed in the formof dot meshing or grayed-out, and those operation control keys aredisabled (i.e., operation on any such key by a user is ignored). Notethat in the present embodiment, there is no particular restriction onthe manner of disabling processing, and any method of disablingprocessing can be employed.

In the present embodiment, as described above, when the operationcontrol screen is displayed, information indicating the current statusassociated with date/time is displayed so that the date/time informationservice can be used in the most effective manner. Depending on thecurrent status associated with date/time information, the plurality ofoperation modes or capabilities of the image forming apparatus 1401 arerestricted such that a user can use the image forming apparatus 1401 ina very convenient and effective manner. The present embodiment of theinvention is very useful, particularly when the embodiment is applied toa multifunction apparatus having a capability of providing service usingdate/time information.

Although in the embodiment described above, the invention is applied tothe image forming apparatus 1401 to control or restrict its operationmode using the controller 1501, the invention may also be applied to theclient computer 1403 or 1404 or the multifunction digital device 1405that remotely uses the image forming apparatus 1401 such that operationcontrol screens are displayed and operation modes are restricted in asimilar manner.

For example, displaying of information and/or the operation mode of anexternal device (information processing apparatus), such as the clientcomputer 1403, can be controlled or restricted by controlling theprinter driver and/or the status monitor thereof as described below.

In the client computer 1403, when a printer driver setting screen foruse in setting the image forming apparatus 1401 is displayed on thedisplay of the client computer in response to an operation performed bya user, or when a status monitoring function is executed on the clientcomputer 1403 in order to detect the status of the image formingapparatus 1401, a status request command is transmitted from the clientcomputer 1403 to the image forming apparatus 1401 via a communicationmedium such as the network 1400 shown in FIG. 14.

In response to receiving the status request command, the image formingapparatus 1401 returns status information indicating the current status,including the status associated with date/time information of the imageforming apparatus 1401, to the client computer 1403. The statusinformation may include only the time status information or may includeadditional operation status information indicating whether the imageforming apparatus 1401 is performing printing, or is in an idle status,or has an error, status information associated with presence/absenceand/or the number of sheets in the sheet feeder or the output sheettray, and/or status information indicating the presence/absence or theamount of toner or other consumable materials.

In the client computer 1403, the status information indicating thecurrent status of the image forming apparatus 1401, acquired from theimage forming apparatus 1401, is displayed on the display of the clientcomputer 1403 in a status display area similar to the status displayareas 1703 b to 1703 e of FIGS. 17B to 17E. The client computer 1401 maydisplay the current status associated with date/time information used bythe image forming apparatus 1401 as depicted in FIG. 20A. As shown inFIG. 20A, a printer driver setting screen 2000 a for use in setting theimage forming apparatus 1401, including a device status display area2001 a or a printing condition setting area, is displayed on the displayof the client computer 1403. Status information, including at leaststatus information associated with date/time information used by theimage forming apparatus 1401, is displayed in the device status displayarea 2001 a. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 20B, a status monitorscreen 2000 b, including a device status display area 2001 b, isdisplayed under the control of the controller of the client computer1403 on the display of the client computer 1403. Device statusinformation, including at least status information indicating thecurrent status associated with date/time information used by the imageforming apparatus 1401, is displayed in the device status display area2001 b.

As described above, the status information can be displayed in manyways. In any case, it is required that the status information bedisplayed such that a user at the client computer 1403 is informed as towhich one of the first to fourth status associated with date/timeinformation the image forming apparatus 1401 is currently in.Alternatively, the status information may be provided via voicenotification by using a voice output unit (not shown) of the clientcomputer 1403.

Restrictions can be imposed on job data output from the client computer1403 in a similar manner as described above. That is, processing of thejob data is enabled, disabled, or enabled with warning in accordancewith the disabling/enabling rule in the printer mode described in thetable 1900 shown in FIG. 19.

This makes it possible for an external device to display statusinformation and restrict the operation. That is, advantages of thepresent invention can be achieved not only in the image formingapparatus, but also in external devices.

Both the displaying of status information and the restriction on theoperation may be accomplished by an external device, such as the clientcomputer 1403, by using a printer driver or a status monitor. Displayingonly either status information or restriction on the operation may beaccomplished, while the controller 1501 of the image forming apparatusmay display whatever is not displayed by the external device.

The above embodiment describing displaying status information andrestricting operation can be applied not only to the image formingapparatus 1401, but also to another device that uses date/timeinformation and has a plurality of operation modes and the capability ofperforming a plurality of processes, such as a printer, a scanner, aportable telephone, or a digital camera.

Referring to a memory map shown in FIG. 21, data processing programsthat are read and executed by an electronic device according to thepresent invention are described below.

FIG. 21 is a memory map of a storage medium in which data processingprograms (i.e., programs for executing processes of embodimentsdescribed above with reference to flow charts, programs for displayingvarious operation control screens, etc.) readable by the electronicdevice according to the present invention are stored.

Although not shown in FIG. 21, in some cases, information necessary formanagement of the programs stored in the storage medium, such asinformation indicating versions of programs or names of authors ofprograms, is also stored in the storage medium. Furthermore,information, such as icons for identifying the respective programs,depending on the OS executed on the electronic device that reads theprograms may also be stored in the storage medium.

Furthermore, data associated with the respective programs are stored andmanaged in directories in the storage medium. In some cases, a programused to install a program onto a computer is also stored in the storagemedium. In a case in which a program to be installed onto the computeris stored in a compressed fashion, a program used to decompress theprogram is also stored.

The functions or the capabilities described above with reference toFIGS. 2, 7, 8, 11, and 12, and/or the capability of displaying variouskinds of information on operation control screens or the like may beimplemented by programs installed from the outside onto a host computer.The present invention can be applied to a system in which informationincluding such programs is supplied to an output device from a storagemedium such as a CD-ROM, flash memory, floppy disk (FD), or from anexternal storage medium via a network.

The objects of the present invention may also be achieved by supplying astorage medium, on which a software program implementing the functionsof any of the embodiments described above is stored, to a system or anapparatus whereby a computer (CPU or MPU) in the system or apparatusreads and executes the program code stored on the storage medium.

In this case, it should be understood that the program code read fromthe storage medium implements the functions of invention and thus thestorage medium storing the program code falls within the scope ofpresent invention.

Specific examples of storage media that can be preferably employed inthe present invention to supply the program code include a floppy disk,hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetictape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, and EEPROM.

Furthermore, the scope of the present invention includes not only suchan apparatus in which the functions of any embodiment described above isimplemented simply by reading and executing a program code on acomputer, but also an apparatus in which a part of or the whole ofprocess is performed by a OS (operating system) running on the computerin accordance with the program code.

Furthermore, the scope of the present invention also includes anapparatus in which a program code is transferred once from a storagemedium into a memory provided in a function extension board inserted ina computer or provided in a function extension unit connected to thecomputer, and then a part of or the whole of process is performed by aCPU or the like in the function extension board or the functionextension unit in accordance with the program code thereby implementingthe functions of any embodiment described above.

Although the present invention has been described above with referenceto preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to thosespecific embodiments described above, but various modifications,including combinations of embodiments, are possible.

As described above, the present invention provides great advantages.That is, by applying the invention to an electronic device having acapability of providing service using date/time information, it becomespossible to inform a user whether the data/time information used by theelectronic device is reliable enough, and it becomes possible to permitthe electronic device to operate only in a desirable status associatedwith date/time information, thereby preventing the electronic devicefrom operating in an undesirable status.

Even when the operation of the electronic device is not restricted, theusage history information makes it possible to make managementassociated with date/time more reliable.

The present invention may also be applied to time setting service usinga radio wave or a telephone line. However, in the case in which only thetime information is adjusted using time information provision service,the date (year, month and day) cannot be corrected when the date isincorrectly set. The device can be used even in such a situation, ifsetting that cannot be guaranteed such as the date (year, month and day)is regarded as correct. In the present embodiment, there is no specificrestriction on the details of the time information provision service.

In a device that uses the date/time information service server 14, thedegree of reliability or accuracy of the date/time information used bythat device is expressed by the value of the parameter STS. This makesit possible to inform a user how accurate the information is thatindicates the date/time of operation of the device.

By exchanging the parameter STS with another device, it becomes possibleto perform operation on the basis of more reliable date/timeinformation.

The present invention also makes it possible to restrict the operationof a device in a manner specified by a user when it is undesirable touse a device in a status in which date/time information is not accurateenough.

In the embodiments described above, information is provided to a user byusing a notification unit, such as a display, a voice output unit, or anindictor, to inform the user which one of the first to fourth statusesassociated with date/time information the device is in. Alternatively,the printer unit 1507 may print the status information on paper in orderto inform a user of the status. In this case, the printer unit 1507 alsoserves as the notification unit. That is, any type of notification unitcan be used, as long the notification unit is capable of informing auser of the current status of the device in terms of date/timeinformation. More specifically, as with the operation control screensdescribed above, a notification message may be displayed on thenotification unit to inform a user whether the date/time information isbased on first-type date/time data or second-type date/time data,whether the displayed date/time data has been set manually or has beencalibrated, or to inform the user that date/time has not been set yet orthat calibration is necessary.

Furthermore, in an electronic device having the capability of measuringthe time on the basis of the first date/time data acquired via thedate/time information service or on the basis of the second date/timeinformation set by a user, the reliability of the date/time informationis evaluated on the basis of the history of setting the date/time andthe evaluation result is displayed on a display. Furthermore, dataprocessing is enabled or disabled depending on the degree of reliability(status) of the date/time information. From the status informationassociated with date/time information displayed on the display, the usercan easily know the reliability of the date/time information, and theuser can determine whether to perform data processing depending on thestatus associated with date/time.

In a communication process between devices having the capability ofsetting date/time using the date/time information provision service,date/time information is exchanged and compared with date/timeinformation used in each device. Depending on the comparison result, thedate/time information is replaced with more reliable date/timeinformation. That is, each time communication between two devices isperformed, date/time information used in each device is evaluated, anddata processing is performed on the basis of the more reliable date/timeinformation.

In the present invention, not only is status information displayed toinform the user of the current status of the device in terms of timeinformation, but the operation control screen is also displayed in amanner taking into account that the time service can be provided and thedevice has the plurality of operation modes, so that the user can easilyuse the various capabilities or functions of the device by inputtingdata or issuing a command via the operation control screen that isswitched/modified depending on the operation mode. This makes itpossible to effectively use the capabilities or functions of the deviceusing the time service, and a significant improvement in operability isachieved. In particular, the present embodiment of the invention is veryuseful when it is applied to a multifunction device having the timeservice capability.

Furthermore, in the present invention, when the operation control screenis displayed, information indicating the current status associated withdate/time is displayed so that the date/time information service can beused in the most effective manner. Depending on the current statusassociated with date/time information, the plurality of operation modesor capabilities of the image forming apparatus 1401 are restricted suchthat a user can use the image forming apparatus 1401 in a veryconvenient and effective manner. This is very useful, particularly whenthe invention is applied to a multifunction apparatus having acapability of providing service using date/time information.

In the present invention, the control process can be performed not onlya device that uses the time information service, but also by anotherexternal device such as a computer that has the capability of performingdata communication with the former device and that controls the formerdevice from a remote location. That is, the present invention providesthe advantages described above not only to a user who directly uses adevice having the time service capability, but also to a user whoindirectly uses the device from a remote location. Thus, the presentinvention is very useful in many types of apparatuses and many types ofsystems in which time information service is used.

While the present invention has been described with reference to whatare presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures and functions.

1. A job processing apparatus for holding time information andprocessing a job, the job processing apparatus comprising: a firstsetting unit configured to set time information to be held by the jobprocessing apparatus according to time information input by a user; asecond setting unit configured to set time information to be held by thejob processing apparatus according to time information received from anapparatus for providing time information; and a log information holdingunit configured to hold log information of a job processed by the jobprocessing apparatus, wherein whether time when a job is processed istime based on the time information set by the first setting unit or timebased on the time information set by the second setting unit isdistinguishable with reference to the log information held by the loginformation holding unit.
 2. The job processing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: a display unit configured to display thelog information held by the log information holding unit.
 3. The jobprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: aprinting unit configured to print the log information held by the loginformation holding unit.
 4. The job processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein a job to be processed by the job processing apparatusis either a data transmission job or a data reception job.
 5. The jobprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the log informationheld by the log information holding unit includes information indicatinga type of a job and time when the job is processed.
 6. The jobprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: arestriction unit configured to restrict a job to be processed accordingto whether time information held by the job processing apparatus is thetime information set by the first setting unit or the time informationset by the second setting unit.
 7. The job processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the apparatus for providing timeinformation is a time information service server for providing correctedtime information via a network.
 8. The job processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the job processing apparatus includes ascanner and/or a printer.
 9. A method for controlling a job processingapparatus for holding time information and processing a job, the methodcomprising: setting time information to be held by the job processingapparatus according to time information input by a user; setting timeinformation to be held by the job processing apparatus according to timeinformation received from an apparatus for providing time information;and holding log information of a job processed by the job processingapparatus, wherein whether time when a job is processed is time based onthe time information set according to the time information input by theuser or time based on the time information set according to the timeinformation received from the apparatus for providing time informationis distinguishable with reference to the log information held by the loginformation holding unit.
 10. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium comprising computer-readable instructions stored thereon forexecuting a method for controlling a job processing apparatus forholding time information and processing a job, the method comprising:setting time information to be held by the job processing apparatusaccording to time information input by a user; setting time informationto be held by the job processing apparatus according to time informationreceived from an apparatus for providing time information; and holdinglog information of a job processed by the job processing apparatus,wherein whether time when a job is processed is time based on the timeinformation set according to the time information input by the user ortime based on the time information set according to the time informationreceived from the apparatus for providing time information isdistinguishable with reference to the log information held by the loginformation holding unit.